THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA RESPONDED TO THE NAGOYA MAYOR’S DENIAL: A STUDY ON NANJING MASSACRE THROUGH NEW MEDIA (2012- 2017)
By
YANG GUANG
ID No. 016201400186
A thesis presented to the
Faculty of Humanities President University in partial
fulfillment of the requirements for Bachelor Degree in
International Relations Major in Diplomacy
February 2018
PANEL OF EXAMINER APPROVAL SHEET
The Panel of Examiners declare that the thesis entitled “THE PEOPLE’S
REPUBLIC OF CHINA RESPONDED ON THE NAGOYA MAYOR’S
DENIAL: A STUDY ON NANJING MASSACRE THROUGH NEW
MEDIA (2012-2017)” that was submitted by Yang Guang majoring in
Diplomacy Studies from the Faculty of Humanities was assessed and approved to have passed the Oral Examinations on 2 February 2018.
Hendra Manurung, S.IP., MA
Witri Elvianti, S.IP., MA
Isyana Adriani, BA., M.Si
I THESIS ADVISER
RECOMMENDATION LETTER
This thesis entitled “THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
RESPONDED ON THE NAGOYA MAYOR’S DENIAL: A STUDY ON
NANJING MASSACRE THROUGH NEW MEDIA (2012-2017)” prepared and submitted by Yang Guang in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in International Relations in the Faculty of Humanities has been reviewed and found to have satisfied the requirements for a thesis fit to be examined. I therefore recommend this thesis for Oral Defense.
Cikarang, Indonesia, 26 January 2018
Isyana Adriani, B.A, M.Si
Thesis Adviser
II
DECLARATION OF ORIGINALITY
I declare that this thesis, entitled “THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF
CHINA RESPONDED ON THE NAGOYA MAYOR’S DENIAL: A
STUDY ON NANJING MASSACRE THROUGH NEW MEDIA (2012-
2017)” is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, an original piece of work that has not been submitted, either in whole or in part, to another university to obtain a degree.
Cikarang, Indonesia, 26 January 2018
Yang Guang
III
ABSTRAK
Dengan pesatnya perkembangan teknologi informasi, teknologi internet dan teknologi digital dalam beberapa tahun terakhir, era digital telah menjadi kenyataan. Media terkini muncul sebagai tujuan terbaru dan memberi pengaruh luas pada perspektif masyarakat yang berbeda. Media kini dianggap sebagai alat komunikasi dan informasi terbaik, memiliki pengaruh besar pada pekerjaan sehari-hari dan gaya hidup. Sementara itu, media juga mulai menghasilkan pengaruh pada diplomasi dan hubungan internasional dan menjadi topik yang hangat diperbincangkan dalam ilmu diplomasi. Berawal dari konsep dasar dan ungkapan utama dan karakteristik komunikasi media terkini, makalah ini akan mengeksplorasi bagaimana media terkini mempengaruhi hubungan internasional dan urusan luar negeri. Kemudian, Internet akan menjadi contoh untuk mengeksplorasi pengaruhnya terhadap urusan luar negeri China dari perspektif terhadap situasi saat ini, karakteristik baru dan kasus aktual. Makalah ini akan menganalisis peristiwa di Internet yang ramai dibicarakan yang disebabkan oleh penolakan Pembantaian Nanjing oleh walikota Nagoya, Jepang, pada tahun 2012 dan pengaruhnya sampai tahun 2017, dan mencoba untuk menganalisis bagaimana China melalui media baru menanggapi penolakan Pembantaian Nanjing melalui studi kasus ini. Terakhir, makalah ini akan membuat sebuah prospek mengenai diplomasi berbasis media terkini milik China dan mendiskusikan tentang peluang dan tantangan yang akan dihadapinya. Dan nantinya akan memberikan beberapa saran mengenai perkembangan media baru termasuk perubahan gagasan pemerintah mengenai masalah ini, peningkatan teknologi media, peningkatan sistem institusi dan peningkatan konstruksi tim profesional.
Kata Kunci: media baru komunikasi, hubungan internasional, Internet, Diplomasi, hubungan Sino- Jepang.
IV
ABSTRACT
With the rapid development of information technology, Internet technology and digital technology in recent years, being digital has become a reality. New media emerged as the latest tendency and made a wide influence on different perspectives of the society. New media, as a best tool of information communication, has had a great effect on daily work and life style. Meanwhile, it began to produce influence on diplomacy and international relations and has become a hot topic in the science of diplomacy. Starting from the basic concept, main expressions and characteristics of new media communication, the paper will explore how new media makes influence on international relations and foreign affairs. Then, it will take Internet as an example to explore its influence on China’s foreign affairs from the perspectives of current situation, new characteristics and actual cases. The paper will analyze the hot Internet event caused by the denial of Nanjing Massacre by the mayor of Nagoya, Japan, in 2012 and its effects up to 2017, and try to analyze how China through new media to respond the denial of Nanjing Massacre through this case study. Lastly, the paper will make a prospect on Chinese new media-based diplomacy and discuss about the opportunities and challenges it will face. It will still provide some suggestions on Chinese new media development including the change of governments’ attitude on this issue, upgrading of the media technologies, improvement of the institution system and enhancement of the professional team construction.
Key Words: new media communication, international relations, the Internet, Diplomacy, Sino-Japan relations.
V ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
First, I want to express my deep love to my father and mother. In my daily life, they always support me, encourage me, and give me suggestions all the time. During writing thesis, they always urge me to keep working hard and take thesis seriously.
Second, I want to express my thanks to President University. Studying in President University, I get many knowledge and skills. President University gives me a good condition to study and live, I really get too much from here. Thanks to President University’s trains.
Third, I want to express my thanks to my classmates in President University. They always help and support me. They are very kind and friendly to me, when I have questions, I can always get helps and suggestions from my dear classmates. They accompany me having a wonderful studying time in President University.
Last but not least, I really want to express my big thanks to my thesis lecture, Isyana Adriani. When I was her student, she taught us very seriously and carefully. She led us to a professional world and taught us many professional knowledges. During the writing process of this thesis, she gave me many suggestions, promoted me to think the direction of this thesis. After her patient guidance, I complete this thesis successfully.
Illustrations
Page
Table
Table1: Theme Number of People’s Daily News Reports on Nanjing Massacre (2007- 2016) ...... 35
Table 2: The Number of Chinese Internet Users Who Care About The Nagoya Mayor’s Denial of Nanjing Massacre...... 41
Figure
Figure 1: The Consulate General of the United States, Guangzhou Sina Weibo Home Page ...... 24
Figure 2: China Internet Users Scale and Its Penetration Rate...... 27
Figure 3: The Number of Mobile Internet Users in China...... 28
Figure 4: Theme Number of People’s Daily News Reports on Nanjing Massacre, 2016...... 36
Figure 5: Theme Number of People’s Daily News Reports on Nanjing Massacre (2007- 2016)...... 37
Figure 6: The Homepage of Sina on Reporting Nagoya Mayor's Denial of Nanjing Massacre ...... 39
Figure 7: Zhu Chengshan, Director of the Nanjing Massacre Memorial Compatriots, Responded to Questions from Chinese Netizen on Nanjing Massacre in Weibo...... 42
Figure 8: The Nanjing Massacre Pictures Provided by Chinese Netizen on Baidu
Baike...... 43
Figure 9: Japanese Search and Rescue Workers Mourn the Remains of the Wenchuan Earthquake Victims...... 48
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PANEL OF EXAMINER APPROVAL SHEET...... i THESIS ADVISER RECOMMENDATION LETTER...... ii DECLARATION OF ORIGINALITY ...... iii ABSTRACT IN BAHASA INDONESIA...... iv ABSTRACT IN ENGLISH...... v ACKNOWLEDGEMENT...... vi CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION ...... 1
1.1 Background ...... 1
1.2 Problem Identification ...... 4
1.3 Statement of the Problem ...... 4
1.4 Research Objectives ...... 5
I.5 Significance of Study ...... 5
1.6 Theoretical Framework ...... 6
1.7 Scope and Limitations of the Study ...... 9
I.8 Research Methodology ...... 9
1.9 Thesis Structure...... 10
CHAPTERⅡLITERATURE REVIEW ...... 12
CHAPTERⅢThe Use of New Media in China ...... 19
3.1 The Meaning and Communication Characteristics of New Media ...... 19
3.1.1 The Meaning of New Media ...... 19
3.1.2 The Main Communication Characteristics of New Media ...... 21
3.2 The Meaning and Development Conditions of New Media Diplomacy...... 22
3.2.1 The Meaning of New Media Diplomacy ...... 23
3.2.2 The Development Foundations of China’s New Media Diplomacy ...... 24
3.3 The Current Situation of China 's Internet Development and the New Characteristics of China' s Diplomacy in the Internet Age ...... 27
3.3.1 The Current Situation of China 's Internet Development ...... 27
3.3.2 New Characteristics of China's Diplomacy in the Internet Age ...... 28
CHAPTER IV The Case Study Of Nagoya Mayor’s Denial of Nanjing Massacre (2012-2017) .... 32
4.1 The Origin of the Event ...... 32
4.2 The Response From All Parties On This Event ...... 33
4.2.1 The Response From China’s Government ...... 33
4.2.2 The Response From China’s Major New Media Platforms ...... 38
4.2.3 The Response From China’s Netizen ...... 41
4.3 The Results of This Event ...... 44
4.4 The Impact of New Media on Sino-Japanese Relations ...... 46
4.4.1 Leading to Civil Hostility, the Friendly Relations Between the Two Countries Have Been Hit Hard ...... 46
4.4.2 Making Chinese Government Have To Respond This Event Seriously ...... 49
CHAPTER V CONCLUSION ...... 52
REFERENCES...... 55
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
As human society entered the Internet era, the field of international relations showed a new trend of borderless, national diplomatic activities became more and more dependent on cyberspace. Since the new media diplomacy has an important impact on public diplomacy, and in the time of information globalization gradually deepen and civic consciousness began to rise, more and more countries try to use new media to communicate with other countries’ public. These countries try to use this way to expand their influence worldwide and looking for international public’s support for the countries’ own behavior. Essentially, as a form of public diplomacy, new media diplomacy is the complement and evolution for traditional diplomacy in the time of globalization and information, its an important measure for a country to shape the international identity and improve national soft power in the information society. The minimum requirements of new media diplomacy is to prevent network attacks, to protect national security information; its highest pursuit is to disseminate national value concept better, support a good public opinion environment for national development and help the country to maintain national interests in the global scope.1
The new media which originates in the computer technology, Internet and information processing technology, has a complex content composition and forms, and its impact is almost everywhere. On the one hand, through the infiltration of all levels, the new media has a profound impact on our living habits, working methods, emotional communication and transmission, accessing and sharing of information / resources /
1 Duhé, S. C. (2012). New Media and Public Relations. New York University Press
1 services, collective participation and personal expression. On the other hand, new media’s development has made an important impact on a country's diplomacy and even international relations and patterns. Network has accelerated the "global village" process, the new media’s specific information dissemination and shared advantages has further broken the "village" in the barriers between different countries. The new technical means formed a real challenge to the speech right that is held by governments. The citizens not only can express their views on their own country, but also can comment other countries’ affairs and even make an intervention. This kind of information dissemination and discourse expression of the network approach is diverse, complex, interactive and three-dimensional. It is almost impossible to cut it off completely by the governments. Combined with the interests and ideology of the state, some countries will use or induce the use of new media to convey the "public opinion" to achieve the purposes: fighting against hostility, political, economic, cultural infiltration or restoring reputation and shaping the image. Thus, the impact of new media on a country's diplomacy (foreign policy) or international relations become apparent.2
In recent years, the rapid development of China's new media makes new media has gradually become a platform for public comment. The strength of the network of public opinion even can affect or reflect the development of Sino-Japanese relations.3 The event＂Chinese netizen protest Nagoya mayor for denying Nanjing massacre＂is a good example. In December 1937, the Japanese army invaded the city of Nanjing, created the "Nanjing massacre", more than 300,000 Chinese civilians and prisoners of war were brutally killed by the Japanese.4 However, in today's Japanese political and civil society, there are still many people not repenting and even ignoring this history,
2 Bjola, C., & Holmes, M. (2015). Digital diplomacy: Theory and Practice. New York: Columbia University Press
3 Wan, M. (2014). Sino-Japanese Relations: Interaction, Logic, and Transformation. Stanford: Stanford University Press
4 Timmons, A. (2018). The Nanjing Massacre. New York : Rosen Publishing
2 they think this history is a unreal. On February 20, 2012, when Takashi Kawamura, the major of Nagoya met a official visiting delegation from Nanjing, he doubted that Japanese army had killed the Chinese common people and he declared Nanjing Massacre may not exist.5 After Chinese Internet users got the news, they quickly posted messages to put pressure on the government and expressed serious protests. In the huge pressure of public opinion, the next day, Nanjing City, decided to suspend the official exchanges with the Nagoya City government. On February 22, 2012, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei expressed that: For the event＂Nagoya mayor deny Nanjing massacre＂, China had made representations to the Japanese side to express serious concern and expressed Chinese government’s understanding and supporting for the decision to suspend the official exchanges with Nagoya City.
At present, the development of new media has become the hottest phenomenon of the media sphere, many international organizations and foreign missions in China already carried out the new media diplomacy on Chinese people through MicroBlog, WeChat and other new media platforms used by the huge Chinese population to release their national information. Although in recent years, MicroBlog, WeChat, etc; which belong to China's own new media platform have been built gradually and achieved rapid development, China has not yet carried out the large-scale new media diplomacy practice on other countries’ general public as the target.6 On the policy of the external media activities, for China, there is no similarity to the United States and other developed countries’ more mature new media diplomacy strategy.7 Compared with the earlier and better countries with the use of new media diplomacy, China has a certain gap with other developed countries in the practice of new media diplomacy. Therefore, how to develop and manage new media, make it become a new tool for diplomatic
5 Wang Xu. (February 21, 2012). Nanjing Massacre is Undeniable. Xinhua Daily News Pres
6 Tang, X., Wu, X., Huang, C., & Liu, R. (2017). Development Report on China’s New Media. Singapore: Springer Singapore
7 Ibid
3 activities has become a problem that needs to be solved by China at this stage.
1.2 Problem Identification
With the rapid development of scientific and technological means, the "new media" as a new media form corresponding to traditional media, has already profoundly affected and changed all aspects of our lives in recent years, and it begins to enter the field of foreign diplomacy academic research. In order to better develop China's diplomacy and promote of national soft power and realize national interests, we need to have a comprehensive understanding on the opportunities and challenges brought by China's diplomacy for the arrival of the new media diplomacy.
1.3 Statement of the Problem
Topic：In recent years, Sino-Japanese relations have seen twists and turns, and new media have played an increasingly important role in the development of Sino-Japanese relations. From the event＂Chinese Internet users protest Nagoya mayor deny Nanjing massacre＂, it can be concluded that: The emergence and development of new media diplomacy enriches the forms of state diplomacy and injects new vitality into the development of diplomatic activities. The development of new media not only provides the new impetus and opportunities for China to carry out information dissemination and make more international public can understand China better than before, but also forms new challenges for China's current diplomacy.
Question：How did the Chinese government, through new media, respond to the
Nagoya mayor’s denial of the Nanjing Massacre (2012-2017) ?
4 1.4 Research Objectives
As an emerging and increasingly influential media form, it is an indisputable fact that new media has had an impact on the development of traditional diplomatic activities. But what are the mechanisms and roots of this influence, what are the basic characteristics and specific manifestations, how to grasp its connotation and extension, how to understand its impact on diplomatic activities clearly are still a little chaotic in the current theoretical research of diplomacy.
Based on this, this thesis is based on the understanding of the concept, characteristics and manifestations of new media, focusing on the characteristics of new media dissemination, trying to analyze its influences on international relations and diplomatic activities from the theoretical level, and combing out its specific manifestations and ways of acting to deepen understanding within a more comprehensive perspective. At the same time, through the case analysis, this thesis starts from the use of Internet, tries to connect the theory and practice of the new media, and makes a intuitively understanding on how the new media communication affects the diplomatic activities and international relations, and grasp the essence through the complex expression form.
I.5 Significance of Study
From the theoretical point of view, as a new and rising form of diplomatic activities, the study of new media diplomacy development process, mode of operation and its influences and challenges on diplomatic activities, which has a positive effect on enriching and developing the relevant theories of diplomacy to a certain extent.
From a realistic point of view, under the premise that is China's new media diplomacy strategy has not yet been formed, and the new media has a rapid development, making a better understanding on the opportunities and challenges posed by new media to
5 diplomatic activities will have a positive contribution to the government in changing the concept, strengthening investment and developing new media foreign policy with its own characteristics. This study will have a certain practical significance for China’s current foreign affairs development.
1.6 Theoretical Framework
1.6.1 New Media Diplomacy
As a kind of diplomatic form combined with modern technology, new media diplomacy is a new diplomatic model that originated in the Internet age. It refers to the international behaviors, namely, the state, international organizations, transnational corporations or individuals using Internet technology and Internet platform to participate in foreign information exchange, external publicity and other diplomatic activities to safeguard and develop their own interests.8 With the advance of time and the development of new media, the role of the common people has already been clearly improved in the more time and space, and thus it provides the basis for the development of new media diplomacy.
The effective use of the new media plays a significant role in promoting common people’s role in diplomacy. In other words, through the role played by the new media to guide people taking effective practice in foreign affairs and international issues in the information age, the role of the people in foreign policy making can be improved and enhanced. Further, the information age has contributed to the development of new media diplomacy. Information is power, more and more people already have mastered this power in the current world.9 Thus, in the information age and the ensuing new
8 Breakenridge, D. (2009). PR 2.0: New Media, New Tools, New Audiences. Upper Saddle River, N.J: FT Press
9 Joseph Nye (2005) Soft Power - An Avenue to World Politics Success. Shanghai: Oriental Press
6 media era, the role played by the common people can be further improved and highlighted. Also, by using new media to carry out the positive public diplomacy, people can play a more influential role.
1.6.2 Multi -Track Diplomacy
Multi-Track Diplomacy is a conceptual way to view the process of international peacemaking as a living system. It looks at the web of interconnected activities, individuals, institutions, and communities that operate together for a common goal: a world at peace. It seeks to strengthen the interconnection of activities, individuals, institutions, and communities together to globally improve systems and lives.10
In the study of the use of new media in China's public diplomacy, it is necessary to consider the use of new media as a strengthening and optimization tool in the promotion of public diplomacy in China based on the definition of public diplomacy and Multi- Track Diplomacy’s attention to the interconnection of activities, individuals, institutions, and communities. On the one hand, the new media as a tool in the effective use of Multi-Track Diplomacy, the purpose is to improve the public diplomacy impacts on the other countries’ common people, which in itself is consistent with the Multi- Track Diplomacy theory related to the interconnection. On the other hand, the new media is an important factor in today's Multi-Track Diplomacy development.11 The theoretical analysis of the application of Multi-Track Diplomacy to the new media constitutes the theoretical interpretation of the effective use of the new media in public diplomacy, thus promoting China's public diplomacy development. Combined with the needs of China's public diplomacy theory development, this promotion requires
10 McDonald, C. G. (1997). Protocol and Etiquette: Guidelines for Citizen Diplomats in Multi-track Diplomacy. Washington, D.C: Intitute for Multi-Track Diplomacy
11 Breakenridge, D. (2009). PR 2.0: New Media, New Tools, New Audiences. Upper Saddle River, N.J: FT Press
7 theoretical support, and thus contributes to a more effective understanding of using new media in Multi-Track Diplomacy.
1.6.3 Public Diplomacy
Public diplomacy, broadly speaking, is the communication with and dissemination of propaganda to the general public of foreign nations to establish a dialogue designed to inform and influence. It involves not only shaping the message(s) that a country wishes to present abroad, but also analyzing and understanding the ways that the message is interpreted by diverse societies and developing the tools of listening and conversation as well as the tools of persuasion.12 With the rapid development of China's power and the promotion of globalization, the status and role of public diplomacy in China's diplomatic layout have become increasingly important. However, under the rapid development of new media, the traditional public diplomacy needs to adapt the changes of the new era, the new environment of the development of international relations and the new process of the diplomatic game.
The rapid development of new media in recent years has infiltrated into various fields and has had a profound impact on China's public diplomacy. New media has narrowed the distance between time and space and makes the public can receive information anytime, anywhere from around the world. The new media has increased the implementation actors, channels and ways of China's public diplomacy to make up for the shortcomings of the traditional model of public diplomacy in China, which has provided new opportunities for China's public diplomacy development. At the same time, the characteristics of new media make the control of public diplomacy become to be more difficult. The ordinary people may cause public opinion and unconscious public diplomatic activities. The screening of a large amount of information has also
12 Leonard, M., Stead, C., Smewing, C., & Foreign Policy Centre (London, England). (2002). Public diplomacy. London: Foreign Policy Centre
8 become a problem, public diplomacy requires a series of policy adjustments and adaptations to change its traditional model.
1.7 Scope and Limitations of the Study
For the introducing and explanation of new media diplomacy, this thesis only tries to summarize it in general based on the diverse analyzing from Chinese and American scholars, like Dong Qingjun, Sun Ruipeng, Cull, Nicholas, etc. This thesis will pay more attention to the influence of new media communication on China’s diplomacy through the only case study which is Chinese Internet users protest Nagoya mayor’s denial of Nanjing massacre from 2012 to 2017.
I.8 Research Methodology
This essay uses qualitative method as its research methodology. By using qualitative method, it would examine, analyze and interpret observations for the purpose of understanding how has Chinese Government used new media diplomacy to counter mayor of Nagoya’s denial about the Nanjing Massacre (2012-2017). The method of data collecting employed both empirical data collection and theoretical analyses from a few theories including news communication theory, international political theory, etc. From political and communication aspects to explain the influence of new media communication on China’s Diplomacy. On the one hand, this thesis tries to analyze new media’s relationship with diplomatic activities, explore its effective way and performance, and then dig out its different characteristics from the traditional media diplomacy. On the other hand, this essay tries to conduct the research through the analysis of typical case＂Refuting denial on Nanjing Massacre＂to explore how the new media promotes China's diplomacy especially the development of Sino-Japanese relations. Through the study of the case, we can get some experience and lessons to provide some references for us to make better use of new media communication.
9 1.9 Thesis Structure
Chapter I. Introduction
This Chapter introduces to the reader what thesis topic is being investigated. It describes the reasons why the thesis is being conducted, including: background of the study, problem identified, statement of the problem, research objectives, significant of the study, theoretical framework and the definition of terms.
Chapter II. Literature Review
This chapter shows the pertinent materials relevant to the study, assimilate the contents, and write a concise summary of the material. This part shows what literature the writer used to provide a clear background and theoretical grounding to the topic. Material for this part are taken from books, journals, the Internet, and other published sources.
Chapter III. The Use of New Media in China
This chapter will introduce the meaning and main characteristics of new media communication. Also, this chapter will explain what new media diplomacy is and what the reasons are for the development of new media diplomacy. In addition, this chapter will focus on China’s current Internet development situation and the new characteristics of China’s diplomacy in the Internet.
Chapter IV. Refuting Denial of Nanjing Massacre
This chapter will analyze the Internet event caused by Nagoya mayor’s denial of Nanjing Massacre and try to find the influence of Internet on Sino-Japan relations to explain the specific performance of Internet in affecting China’s diplomacy. Also, this chapter will focus on the opportunities and challenges that new media diplomacy brings to China.
10 Chapter V. Conclusion
This part will try to give recommendations for China on how to face and deal with the opportunities and challenges brought by new media to China’s diplomacy. Then, this chapter will make the conclusion of the whole thesis.
Definition of Terms
New Media: New media is used to describe content made available using different forms of electronic communication made possible through the use of computer technology.
Public Diplomacy: Public diplomacy is the communication with and dissemination of propaganda to foreign public to establish a dialogue designed to inform and influence.
Soft Power: Soft power is the ability to achieve one's goals without force, esp by diplomacy, typically involving the use of economic or cultural influence.
Sino-Japanese: Sino-Japanese involves both China and Japan, for example the First Sino-Japanese War, or Sino-Japanese vocabulary.
11 CHAPTER Ⅱ
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Dong Qingjun & Sun Ruipeng, New Media Diplomacy: A New Diplomatic Revolution, The International Observation, 2012
The book “New Media Diplomacy: A New Diplomatic Revolution” which wrote by Dong Qingjun, Sun Ruipeng and published by The International Observation in 2012. This book focus on explaining what is new media diplomacy and what is the importance of new media diplomacy.
This book points out that: New media diplomacy is a technical revolution about diplomatic communication, its birth and development has changed the traditional rules of political operation and the previous foreign policy making model. Ordinary people are no longer expelled from the diplomatic decision-making, The unilateral flow of traditional political information was broken. In the game of international politics, non- state actors such as individuals, corporations and non-governmental organizations have the possibility of making voice on the international stage because of the existence of new media, and their influence and capacity for action have been enhanced in the international arena.13
From the study of this book, we can know that: Under the rapid development of new media, the traditional diplomatic model has been challenged, the elite diplomatic model is under increasing impact, the global security concept and related issues will be
13 Dong Qingjun&Sun Ruipeng (2012). New Media Diplomacy: A New Diplomatic Revolution, The International Observation Press
12 reconstruction in the new media era. Therefore, this book helps us to know what the significance of new media diplomacy and how important to choose new media diplomacy as the object of study.
2.2 Zhao Kejin. The Theory and Practice of Public Diplomacy. Shanghai, Shanghai Lexicographical Publishing House, 2011
The book “The Theory and Practice of Public Diplomacy” which wrote by Zhao Kejin published by Shanghai lexicographical publishing house in 2011 mainly talks about the practice of China in implementing public diplomacy, this book focus on what has China done in public diplomacy and how to make a better use of public diplomacy.
The book argues that: Public diplomacy will be an irreversible trend of diplomatic development. In the Internet age, traditional diplomats will be challenged by diplomatic information processing, agenda setting and so on. Therefore, foreign affairs departments and its personnel should make a good use of Internet in the specific diplomatic activities. Otherwise, they will be eliminated in the Internet era.14
From this book, we can know that: although the Chinese foreign affairs departments has strengthened the virtual network diplomacy works, from the needs of the information age point of view, China's work is still lacking. The author also points out that: China's foreign affairs sector should strengthen the role of online media in expanding public participation in diplomatic activities in terms of technology, thinking and system, and make use of virtual network diplomacy to strength public diplomacy. This book helps us to make a better understanding on the importance of the Internet in diplomatic activities.
14 Zhao Kejin (2011). The Theory and Practice of Public Diplomacy. Shanghai, Shanghai Lexicographical Publishing House Press
13 2.3 Wang Wen. New Media’s Challenges to Diplomacy. World Knowledge, 2013
The article “New media’s challenges to diplomacy.” which is written by Wang Wen published by World Knowledge in 2013 mainly focus on explaining the challenges from new media on diplomacy. This article summarizes the new media has brought challenges to the country in four aspects, namely: technology challenge, interaction challenge, populism challenge and public participation challenge.
The article states that: At the level of technology challenge, due to the influence of new media on diplomatic activities, countries that do not understand the application of new media will lose their initiative and favorable opportunity in the diplomatic activities. At the level of interaction challenge, the new media makes the interaction between state and the public become more rapid and more equitable. In the use of new media to carry out diplomatic activities, the government must strength the ability to respond the information, and make every effort to grasp the right to speak in dialogue activities. At the level of populism challenge, new media enhances the ability of ordinary people to participate in international affairs, gives the general public the possibility of making public opinion. As the general public’s level of education and the level of awareness of international issues is limited, it can lead to its speech with a certain grassroots and the tendency of populism, which brings new demands to government to control public opinion. At the level of public participation challenge, the government has to face the question of how to properly handle the intention gap between the central government and the public because of the extension of diplomacy to society.15
From this article, we can clear know: New media diplomacy for international politics is both an opportunity and a challenge. Through the analyzes on the new media diplomacy phenomenon from this article, it provides some suggestions and research
15 Wang Wen.(2013) New media’s challenges to diplomacy. World Knowledge Press
14 inspirations for this thesis to give recommendations on national security and its governance to a certain degree.
2.4 Joseph Nye. Soft Power - An Avenue to World Politics Success. Shanghai: Oriental Press, 2005
The book “Soft Power - An Avenue to World Politics Success” is written by Joseph Nye published by Oriental Press mainly talks about the function of soft power in world politics and how to use soft power to improve national image and influence other countries. Finally, the writer analyzes the problems of how to implement ‘soft power’ through public diplomacy.
In this book, we can know that: If power means the ability to get the outcomes one wants’ from others then soft power is the ability to shape the preferences of others. If ‘the others’want the same thing because we share the same worldview, outlook and culture, we can enlist their power in achieving‘our’goal. Hard power is deployed in the form of coercion: using force, the threat of force, economic sanctions, or inducements of payment. In contrast to the coercive nature of hard power, soft power describes the use of positive attraction and persuasion to achieve foreign policy objectives. Soft power is seeking instead to achieve influence by building networks, communicating compelling narratives, establishing international rules, and drawing on the resources that make a country naturally attractive to the world.16
Based on these, we can conclude that the development of new media diplomacy is real complying with the spread of soft power. The country uses new technology to influence and change other countries’ common people to achieve its own goals. Through the new media, the country can easily spread its own values, cultures, public opinions to
16 Joseph Nye. (2005) Soft Power - An Avenue to World Politics Success. Shanghai: Oriental Press
15 influence other countries and even achieve the assimilation results.
2.5 Cull, Nicholas. "'Public Diplomacy' Before Gullion: The Evolution of a Phrase". USC Public Diplomacy. University of Southern California. Retrieved September 26, 2014.
In the book “'Public Diplomacy' Before Gullion: The Evolution of a Phrase”, the term public diplomacy describes the direct or mass-mediated communication activities by individuals, governmental and non-governmental organizations to a foreign government, foreign public and the domestic public by conveying or even exchanging information in order to-directly or indirectly-reduce negative cliches and prejudices, generate sympathy and understanding for it’s nation’s ideals, goals, foreign policies, its institutions, culture and model of society, to build a positive image and relationships and in consequence to make the achievement of international policy goals easier, facilitate closer political ties or alliances and to encourage tourism and inward investment.
Cull and Nicholas concludes that: public diplomacy deals with the influence of public attitudes on the formation and execution of foreign policies. It encompasses dimensions of international relations beyond traditional diplomacy; the cultivation by governments of public opinion in other countries; the interaction of private groups and interests in one country with another; the reporting of foreign affairs and its impact on policy; communication between those whose job is communication, as diplomats and foreign correspondents; and the process of intercultural communications. 17 Through this book, we can know that what is public diplomacy and what is it about. With the development of the times and the development of technology, the globalization of information transmission technology has deepened the traditional form of diplomacy,
17 Cull, Nicholas.(2014) 'Public Diplomacy' Before Gullion: The Evolution of a Phrase. USC Public Diplomacy. University of Southern California.
16 electronic media has become a new way to influence diplomacy. Across the region, time and space, break through the international communication barriers, the people become an international spread of civil power to make new media dissemination as an important carrier of International Relations Construction in 21st century.
2.6 Honda, K., In Gibney, F., & Sandness, K. The Nanjing Massacre: A Japanese Journalist Confronts Japan's National Shame. 2015
This book is based on four visits to China between 1971 and 1989 by Honda Katsuichi, an investigative journalist for Asahi Shimbun. His aim is to show in pitiless detail the horrors of the Japanese Army's seizure and capture of Nanjing in December 1937. Unvarnished accounts of the testimony-Chinese victims and Japanese perpetrators-to the rape and slaughter are juxtaposed with public relations announcements of the Japanese Army as printed in various Japanese newspapers of the time.
By recalling the testimony of Japanese soldiers and reporters who were on the scene, as well as reproducing dispatches by Japanese Army authorities at the time, Honda makes it clear that the atrocities were part of a studied effort directed by the Japanese high command to impress the Chinese people with the power of its army and the folly of resistance to it - the estimate of 300,000 killed in these "military operations" is no exaggeration. Honda has worked with other Japanese journalists and scholars who have attempted to reveal the truth of the Nanjing massacre, provoked by the efforts of right- wing Japanese, including, sadly, many government officials, to whitewash the whole incident, even to the point of contending that a "massacre" never happened.18
This book makes us review the China’s shameful event-Nanjing Massacre. In the new media diplomacy era, some Japanese government officials always want to whitewash this incident, even express Nanjing Massacre never happened. Through the writer’s
18 Honda, K., In Gibney, F., & Sandness, K. (2015). The Nanjing massacre: A Japanese Journalist Confronts Japan's National Shame. Columbia University Press
17 description, it can make that shameful event once again appeared in front of us and guide us to rethink this event under the new media diplomacy era.
2.7 Wang, J. Soft Power in China: Public Diplomacy through Communication. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2011
“Soft power in China: Public diplomacy through communication” is written by J. Wang, published by Palgrave Macmillan US in 2011. This book is talking about how China strives to rebuild its soft power through communication. It focus on talking about Chine’s image management abroad, China’s image projection and its impact in the use of broadcasting, Internet and so on.
This book describes that: The high degree of development of the network provides a new possibility for the shaping of the national image. The state to treat the network and other new media attitude itself is the shape of the national image. Information disclosure itself creates a fair, open, democratic and harmonious image of the country. There is a tendency that online users can directly shape the image of the nation.19
This book recounts China's efforts by examining a set of public diplomacy tactics and programs in its pursuit of a 'new' and 'improved' global image. These case studies invites the reader to a more expansive discussion on the instruments of soft power. This book makes us clear know what has China done to improve its national image and guides us to think about what should China do to make its national image become better than before.
19 Wang, J.(2011). Soft Power in China: Public Diplomacy Through Communication. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan
18 CHAPTER Ⅲ
The Use of New Media in China
In contemporary society, the connection between diplomacy and media is becoming increasingly close. In the 21st century, one of the biggest features of media development is the emergence and development of new media. New media, unlike the characteristics of traditional media, has gradually become a new tool for national diplomatic activities, then new media diplomacy was born.
3.1 The Meaning and Communication Characteristics of New Media
The development of new media diplomacy cannot be separated from the effective use of new media tools. Therefore, to clarify the concept of new media diplomacy, we must firstly analyze and sort out the new media and its communication characteristics.
3.1.1 The Meaning of New Media
＂The new media＂was firstly proposed in 1967 by P. Goldmark, the director of the Institute of Science and Technology of Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS). Today, for the new media, academia gives a different definition. Some scholars believe that the new media is a mobile freedom media which is able to spread control and achieve individual interaction. It is highly dependent on the computer, but it is not just a digital media.20 To a greater extent, new media is an interactive media. There are also scholars who explain the new media from the technical point of view, they think that new media
20 Li Zhongbin. (2011) New Media and the Obama Administration's Public Diplomacy, American Studies Press
19 is a kind of media technology that combines the high-tech media content with modern communication technology.
New media are forms of media that are native to computers, computational and relying on computers for distribution. Some examples of new media are websites, mobile apps, virtual worlds, multimedia, computer games, human-computer interface, computer animation and interactive computer installations. 21 It is the communication pattern with the use of digital technology, network technology through the Internet, broadband local area network, wireless communication network, satellite and other channels, as well as computers, mobile phones, digital TV and other terminals, to provide users with information and entertainment services.22
To sum up, this thesis suggests that new media is a new media model that is relative to the paper media, radio and television and other traditional media. It is a kind of technical means which relays on the Internet and digital communication technology; mobile phones, computers and other digital media are the material carriers. Also it pays attention to the information interaction, to provide information and services to the specific groups. So far, the new media includes: (1) Network new media, such as network virtual community, blog, Weibo and so on; (2) Mobile new media, such as mobile television, mobile radio; (3) Digital new media, such as digital television, building television and so on. In real life, like the United States’ Twitter, Facebook and China's Sina Weibo, WeChat, etc. All of them are the specific form of new media.
21 Manovich, Lev. (2003). New Media From Borges to HTML." The New Media Reader. Ed. Noah Wardrip-Fruin & Nick Montfort. Cambridge, Massachusetts
22 Leinonen, Teemu (2010). Designing Learning Tools. Methodological Insights. Helsinki: Aalto University School of Art and Design.
20 3.1.2 The Main Communication Characteristics of New Media
(1) Rapid and timely delivery of information
New media is a media form which supported by mobile Internet technology. With the maturity of network technology, new media are getting faster and faster in manufacturing and spreading information. Unlike the manufacturing and circuiting information process of newspapers, radio and television media, the new media information from the manufacturing to the release does not require the complex typesetting and post-production, information update speed in days or in hours is not enough to measure the update speed of new media information. The maturity of Internet technology makes new media information in the world to achieve real-time communication, the distance between time and space is narrowed indefinitely, and people can easily understand what happened on the other side of the ocean, which was simply unimaginable in the traditional media age.23
(2) The information content is very huge and diversified
New media is a vast ocean of information making and spreading. Compared with traditional media, new media are more diverse in communication content. On the one hand, with information technology’s development, the faster information update in the new media platform has led to the growing popularity of new media information. On the other hand, in the new media platform, anyone can become a publisher and a distributor of information, which makes the new media information source fully expanded, thus greatly enriched the type and number of information, so that new media information can be explosively increased.
(3) Wide audience range
23 In Hicks, N. J., & In Nicols, C. (2017). Health Industry Communication: New media, New Methods, New message.
21 With the popularity of Internet terminals such as computers, mobile phones, and more people rely on the network deeper, new media increasingly become the preferred way to get information. People no longer need to buy newspapers and magazines, listen to radio, watch television, they can access information just through network.24 Easy and rapid access to information makes the new media get more and more attention and use. New media users are growing, the audience is more extensive than the traditional media users, especially among young people, such as microblogging, WeChat and other new media tools have long been a popular symbol of popular culture
(4) Information interaction is strong.
Information interaction is stronger, which makes the new media communication different from the traditional media. Interaction refers to the information between the sender and the receiver is no longer a one-way flow, but there is feedback and reply to the two-way circulation. The new media users may be both the information receiver and information sender, which makes the information communication and interaction between users become more frequent. With information technology and communication equipment’s improvement and development, information making, information collecting and information spreading are no long require the complex circulation and high cost, but it becomes increasingly simple and low cost, which helps the new media users can carry out information exchange and information interaction with other users in anytime and anywhere, to express their own point of view to any other one, to achieve the two-way flow information exchange and information spreading.
3.2 The Meaning and Development Conditions of New Media
Diplomacy
24 Cappo, J. (2005). The Future of Advertising: New media, New Clients, New Consumers in the Post- television Age. Chicago, OH: McGraw-Hill.
22
3.2.1 The Meaning of New Media Diplomacy
New media diplomacy refers to international actors, including nations, international organizations and multinational corporations, in order to maintain and realize their own specific interests, using existing online media technology, through the new media information dissemination function in foreign public to create a kind of social public opinion and achieve their objectives. 25 In the new media diplomacy, information manufacturing and circulation has become a key link in diplomacy. Whether it can successfully persuade the target public to have a positive diplomatic role on the actor of new media diplomacy is an important indicator to examine the effect of the new media diplomacy.
As the diplomatic form of new media diplomacy has been gradually adopted by more countries, its specific performance is for example the United States White House opens an account in Twitter, Facebook and other new media platforms to spread information to the global public. It is the important external communication strategy "public diplomacy 2.0" of United States.26 In China, more and more countries like the America, Japan and other countries have set up Sina microblogging, to send the information about themselves to the Chinese public regularly.27 These countries have already seen the new media as the communication bridge with the Chinese public.
Figure 1 shows the Consulate General of the United States, Guangzhou Sina Weibo home page. Its account publishes texts, pictures and video information regularly, to
25 Ji Meng. (2009). New Media Diplomacy: Theory·Strategy·Case. Peking University External Communications Press
26 Rana, K. S. (2011). 21st-Century Diplomacy: A Practitioner''s Guide. New York: Bloomsbury Publishing.
27 Tang, X., Wu, X., Huang, C., & Liu, R. (2017). Development Report on China’s New Media. Singapore: Springer Singapore
23 spread its global concern and the latest information of the United States. Introducing and spreading American values, winning other countries’ public interests and the support of the United States, new media has already become an important tool for American public diplomacy.28
Figure 1: The Consulate General of the United States, Guangzhou Sina Weibo Home Page29
3.2.2 The Development Foundations of China’s New Media Diplomacy
(1) Technical Support
The maturity and development of new media technology provide the necessary technical support for new media diplomacy. From a technical point of view, new media diplomacy is a diplomatic form that highly is dependent on the Internet technology, without the support of strong network technology and new media platform, new media
28 Rana, K. S. (2011). 21st-Century Diplomacy: A Practitioner''s Guide. New York: Bloomsbury Publishing.
29 It has been reported that America uses Weibo to spread its values. (https://weibo.com/gzpas?refer_flag=1001030102_&is_hot=1)
24 diplomacy activities cannot be carried out smoothly or achieve the desired results.30 Although the generation time of new media is short, but for now, new media technology develops very fast, new media already has the ability to support conditions for a country to spread information to other countries. The rapid development of electronic terminal technology; mobile phones, computers, tablet personal computers and other electronic equipment’s rapid upgrading, also has laid a solid technical guarantee for the development of new media diplomacy.
(2) The Promotion of Globalization
The intensification of the globalization process has contributed to the development of new media diplomacy. On the one hand, under the globalization background, for a country, there has been more relevance in terms of benefits with the general public of other countries. In order to expand its own interests, it is necessary to contact and transmit their own information with the public in other countries; On the other hand, the interests of the general public are increasingly affected by the foreign policy and diplomatic activities of other countries. In order to realize their own interests, the general public must fully grasp the foreign policy or relevant information of other countries to ensure their own behaviors and decision are rational, which makes their demands of other countries’ diplomatic information also increase. Compared with the traditional diplomacy, the new media diplomacy makes up for the shortcomings of the traditional media diplomacy in terms of the long period, single content and the narrow coverage, which supports the satisfaction of the information needs of the state and the general public in the era of globalization, and make the new media diplomacy have a strong vitality to become an important mean for many current developed countries to carry out diplomatic activities.31
30 Thompson, John B. (1995). The Media and Modernity. Cambridge: Polity Press
31 Violaine Hacker (2011). Building Media's industry while promoting community of values in the globalisation. Politické Vedy, Journal of International Affairs, Policy and Security
25
(3) The Rise of Civic Consciousness
The rise of civic awareness has promoted the development of new media diplomacy. On the one hand, with the progress and change of the times, the civic consciousness of the public has been gradually strengthened on a global scale, which makes the citizens' awareness of the participation and responsibility of foreign affairs gradually strengthened. They want to have a certain weight in their political life, and can play a role in influencing international relations. On the other hand, the impact of the general public on relations and diplomacy between countries has been gradually strengthened, which makes it is necessary for any countries to make full use of the media in international activities to create momentum and get public support to achieve their own goals.32 Therefore, for the country, whether it can use the powerful media tools in diplomatic activities, through making influences on other countries’ public to achieve its diplomatic goals has become a problem that cannot be neglected. New media is an open platform for information dissemination, it has a broad audience of communication, fast information dissemination speed, powerful interactive and other advantages. To a large extent, these characteristics can achieve the needs for a country to make diplomatic information become transparent, make the country's diplomatic information cover the most extensive crowd in the fastest time and get the most effective communication effect. New media diplomacy has been widely concerned and used in the rapid development of the global context. Therefore, the new media diplomacy has been widely concerned and used, and has developed rapidly on a global scale.
3.3 The Current Situation of China’s Internet Development and the
New Characteristics of China’s Diplomacy in the Internet Age
32 Bessant, J. (2014). Democracy bytes: New media, new politics and generational change. New York: Springer
26 3.3.1 The Current Situation of China’s Internet Development
China's Internet started late, but developed very fast. According to China Internet Statistics 2017 released by China Internet Watch in January 2017, the relevant data shows that: In December 2016, Chinese Internet users reached 731 million, and the Internet penetration rate reached 53.2%; Compared with 2015, it already increased by 2.9%. In December 2016, Chinese mobile Internet users reached 695 million; Compared with 2015, it already increased up 75.5 million people. Compared with previous years, China's overall Internet users scale already had grown into a steady period. The survey results show that: To get information as the main purpose of Internet users accounted for about half of the total number of Internet users. People use the Internet more deeply and broadly, access to information channels are constantly diversified.
Figure 2: China Internet Users Scale and Its Penetration Rate33
33 China Internert Watch,＂China Internet Statistics 2017＂, January 2017. https://www.chinaInternetwatch.com/whitepaper/china-Internet-statistics/
27
Figure 3: The Number of Mobile Internet Users in China34
With the rapid growth of the number of Internet users in China, public opinion on the Internet is increasingly representative of public opinion in the real world. After people discover the advantages of the Internet, more and more people begin to express their emotions in the virtual space.35 When they found that government leaders have also paid attentions to the public opinion on the Internet, this expression behavior gets an invisible encouragement.36
3.3.2 New Characteristics of China's Diplomacy in the Internet Age
(1) Chinese Public Awareness of Participation in International Affairs is Generally
34 China Internert Watch, ＂China Internet Statistics 2017＂, January 2017. https://www.chinaInternetwatch.com/whitepaper/china-Internet-statistics/
35 In Xue, K., & In Yu, M. (2017). New Media and Chinese Society. Singapore Springer Press
36 Ibid
28 Improved
As a rising power, international consciousness is an essential element in every individual's personal qualities. Before the reform and opening up, due to the long-term control of foreign affairs from the government and the Internet had not widely popularized, the general public's understanding of national affairs and international situation is subject to various restrictions. The single orientation of the information access channel based on the government choice and control for the national interest, which makes people understand the truth of the deviation. The civilian application of the Internet makes the ordinary people and the world a whole. Through the Internet, ordinary people can always feel the recent news, access to comprehensive information, so as to really develop and enhance the international view to take more active attention and participation in the country's external activities.37
(2) The Diversification of Diplomatic Actors has Enriched Civil Diplomacy
One of the characteristics of today's international affairs is the increasing diversity of actors, not only including countries, but also including regions, companies, civil society, and even individuals. The prosperity of the Internet provides the greatest convenience for the cross-border exchanges and interactions. Social elites, celebrities, ordinary civilians and all kinds of non-official social organizations and groups, have an opportunity to know the international situation, receive and transmit the external information through the network. In order to protect personal, group or national interests, these diverse actors individually or jointly participate in the relevant foreign affairs and express their own voice in the virtual network world.38
(3) The rapid development of the Internet has promoted the internationalization process effectively.
37 In Gao, J., In Ingram, C., & In Kee, P. (2017). Global Media and Public Diplomacy in Sino-Western Relations. New York: Free Press
38 Neumann, I. B. (2013). International Diplomacy. Los Angeles: Sage.
29 Economic and cultural international exchanges cooperation and mutual penetration have been everywhere, all kinds of non-state actors through such as science technology, economy, culture, trade and other contents to carry out exchanges and cooperation is the most common contact form. However, as the scientific community's famous quote "science without borders, but scientists have their own motherland," said, although this exchange and interaction often manifested as unofficial without political purposes, the specific actors are inevitably visibly or invisibly controlled, influenced and guided by the host country. Perhaps because of cultural, educational and emotional identity, in most cases, they will consciously serve the government's foreign policy guidance, and promote the development of civil diplomacy.39
(4) The Foreign Events Related to National Emotions Always Lead to Heated Internet Discussions
With the continuous increase of Internet penetration and the rapid growth of the number of Internet users, the general public increasingly become the leading actor on the Internet, and begin to band together with a strong influence. In recent years, almost every major foreign event has spread through the Internet in the first time. The public will and public opinion can be quickly gathered and formed to promote the process of the event and affect the government's attitude and decision-making to a certain extent. Throughout these foreign events that detonated the Internet, most of these events has touched Chinese sensitive national emotions, and then lead to nationalists' collective protest and counter attack that is hidden behind the network. "Network nationalism" successfully and increasingly become a more unstable network nuclear bomb with huge power.40
(5) It is Difficult for the General Public to Really Make Diplomatic Decisions
39 HARTIG, F. A. L. K. (2017). CHINESE PUBLIC DIPLOMACY. S.l.: TAYLOR & FRANCIS.
40 Viskupic, F. (2013). Japan as China's 'other': China's identity and policy towards Diaoyu/Senkaku islands. Hongkong: Lingnan Univ.
30 Although the Internet provides a channel for the general public to understand diplomatic information and participate in diplomatic activities, it is still undeniable that the decision-making power of foreign policy and strategy is still controlled by the top government officials and a few elites. For now, the government's attitude towards the Internet is cautious and strict. If there is an event that is more likely to trigger the network "nuclear explosion", the government will block or quell it in various ways in the first place. Although in the existing network development situation, this control will always be powerless, there have been a variety of major events that trigger the network. Considering the national long-term interests and making sure the diplomatic decision- making is scientific, the government does not necessarily support public opinion in external decision-making. At the same time, for the public opinion which is contrary to government attitudes, the government does not necessarily succumb and conform.41 In other words, the participation and influence of the people on the diplomatic activities reached through the Internet is still at the level of participation, and its influence is mainly manifested in the attention of the relevant departments and has not yet formed a decisive force. In other words, the impact of the people on diplomacy is still at the level of participation, the use of the network to participate in diplomatic activities is mainly manifested in getting the attention from the relevant governmental departments, has not yet formed a decisive force.
41 Lanteigne, M. (2009). Chinese foreign policy: An introduction. London: Routledge.
31 CHAPTER IV
The Case Study of Nagoya Mayor’s Denial of Nanjing Massacre (2012-2017)
4.1 The Origin of the Event
The Nanjing Massacre, which is also called the Rape of Nanjing, happened on December 13th, 1937 during the Second World War. At that time, Nanjing was the capital of China. To achieve their goal of all-out invasion of China, the Japanese troops marched from three directions and besieged Nanjing, slaughtering over 300,000 Chinese civilians and unarmed soldiers. The mass murder lasted for six weeks. One third of the houses in the city were burned and more than 20,000 women were raped. Many of the victims were gang raped and then killed. The figure does not include those captives who were sent to army brothels. The Japanese government has never made any formal or official apology to the Chinese people for their crimes.42
In order to pay tribute to the Nanjing Massacre’s victims invaded by the Japanese invaders, the People's Government of Nanjing Municipality established the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders in 1985. The memorial hall has collected more than 10,000 historical materials and artifacts, including the remains of dead compatriots. The Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders uses typical and persuasive pictures and relevant cultural relics to prove the real existence of the Nanjing massacre.43
42 "The 74th China Memorial Nanjing Massacre"，China Central Television, 2012
43 Kirk A. Denton (2014). Exhibiting the Past: Historical Memory and the Politics of Museums in Postsocialist China,University of Hawaii Press
32 On February 20th, 2012, when Nagoya Mayor Takashi Kawamura of Japan met with a visiting delegation from Nanjing, a sister city of Nagoya, referred to the Japanese "Nanjing Massacre", Kawamura said: "There were regular combative activities, but I believe the Nanjing (Massacre) probably never happened." Kawamura mentioned that his father was in Nanjing at the end of the war and he pointed out that, "Although the event was only 8 years past, Nanjing people were very good to my father". Kawamura claimed that he had learned from his father that his father was warmly received in China. Thus, he said: "If the things like 'Nanjing Massacre' occurred in the eight-year war, why would Chinese make the same warm reception (as his father said)? It's incomprehensible. "44 Kawamura said: "For this kind of thing that has been unable to tell the truth, it is like a prickle, which makes two sides' contacts are always in a bad state." He also said that both China and Japan may wish to hold a historical seminar in Nanjing in the hope of saying what they should be saying and maintaining friendly relations with each other. During the talk, Liu Zhiwei, the head of the Chinese delegation from the CPC Nanjing Municipal Committee, said that: "Nanjing residents love peace. I want to emphasize that studying history is for the sake of maintaining peace instead of continuing hatred."45 After that talk ended, Kawamura also said at a routine press conference on that day: The massacre of 300,000 ordinary people were handed down from generation to generation. My social and political mission is to rectify this historical understanding.46
4.2 The Response From All Parties On This Event
4.2.1 The Response From China’s Government
On the same day, February 20th, 2012, Chinese Foreign Ministry Ministry Spokesman
44 "Nagoya Mayor Said 'Nanjing Massacre' Does not Exist," Kyodo News Agency, February 20, 2012
45 Wang Chuhan. (February 20, 2012). Nanking Massacre Denial Stirs Public Anger. Xinhua Daily News Press
46 Ibid
33 Hong Lei held an official regular press conference and answered questions on the denial of Nanjing Massacre declared by the mayor of Nagoya. Hong Lei said some people in Japan should correctly understand and treat that period of history and earnestly draw lessons from history.47 Thousands and thousands of Chinese netizen got the statement from Chinese Foreign Ministry by using new media.48
On the evening of the February 20 2012, the Nanjing municipal government delegation made a solemn response to the event that Kawamura, mayor of Nagoya, Japan, declared "There is Nanjing massacre", they declared that the history of Nanjing Massacre was irrefutable, it could not be denied.49
From that late night to the next day, within one day, the Nanjing municipal government had made third statements through its official microblog to refute Kawamura’s comments, criticize Japanese media speculation, clarify that the Nanjing delegation did not respond this event on the Internet.
Under the pressure of powerful public opinion by netizens, the spokesman of the Foreign Affairs Office of Nanjing Municipal People’s Government announced at 10 o'clock in the evening of February 21st 2012: In view of the fact that Kawamura denied the historical facts of the Nanjing Massacre and seriously hurt the feelings of the people in Nanjing, Nanjing suspends the official contacts with the Nagoya city government.50 After that, the sister city relations between Nagoya and Nanjing that were established
47 Wang Xiaohui(February 21, 2012). Ministry of Foreign Affairs Responds Nagoya Mayor Deny Nanjing Massacre Again. Xinhua Daily News Press
48 Shen Yang (2012). China Internet Public Opinion Report, 2012. Wuhan University Internet Science Research Center Press
49 Wang Xu. (February 21, 2012). Nanjing Massacre is Undeniable. Xinhua Daily News Press
50 "Nanjing Announces Suspend the Official Contact with Nagoya", BBC Chinese website, February 22, 2012
34 in 1978, based on the signing of the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between Japan and the People's Republic of China, had been interrupted.51
On February 22, Nanjing City Government requested "China-Japan Friendship Nanjing Judo Hall" to stop the commemoration of its second anniversary activities. The Jiangsu provincial government issued an internal notice: Banning local officials from major cities such as Nanjing to visit Nagoya, postponing the "Japan Culture Week" and a series of official exchanges scheduled to be held in Nanjing.52
People's Daily News, as the official media organization of the Chinese Communist Party and the government of the People's Republic of China, has made a large number of relevant reports on this event. Here is the relevant data of People’s Daily News that shows the responds from Chinese government on Nanjing Massacre:
National The Denial of Eyewitness’ Repent Situation of Others
Memory Day Japanese Memories Survivors
2007 65 11 9 8 18 59
2008 58 24 15 10 14 62
2009 87 17 4 13 8 48
2010 92 15 11 7 14 57
2011 97 21 17 5 11 44
2012 86 37 8 10 23 86
51 Zhang Yiming(February 22, 2012). Nanjing Interrupted Friendly City Relations with Nagoya, Xinhua Daily News Press
52 Ibid
35 2013 85 25 12 7 15 75
2014 132 27 24 8 37 117
2015 101 32 32 14 45 102
2016 113 44 21 16 58 121
Table 1: Theme Number of People’s Daily News Reports on Nanjing Massacre (2007-2016)53
Figure 4: Theme Number of People’s Daily News Reports on Nanjing Massacre, 201654
53 Hu Baijing (2014). Internet and the Construction of Collective Memory. Yunnan University Press.
54 Hu Baijing (2014). Internet and the Construction of Collective Memory. Yunnan University Press.
36
Figure 5: Theme Number of People’s Daily News Reports on Nanjing Massacre (2007-
2016)55
From the above charts, we can know that: Before 2012, the number of relevant reports by the People's Daily News on the Nanjing Massacre had not change much. Since 2012, the mayor of Nagoya denied the Nanjing Massacre, the number of articles posted by the People's Daily News on the Nanjing Massacre increased rapidly. According to the overall situation in the past decade, the number of articles by People's Daily News on the Nanjing massacre has been on the rise. This phenomenon can be reflected in the fact that the Chinese Communist Party and the Chinese government hold a very firm stance toward the Nanjing Massacre. The Chinese government expresses the Chinese government's stark attitude toward the Nanjing Massacre by constantly using media to review the history, educate the Chinese people to keep the history in their mind and
55 Hu Baijing (2014). Internet and the Construction of Collective Memory. Yunnan University Press.
37 learn from the lessons of history. Besides these, it is the real action from Chinese government to counter Japanese denial of Nanjing Massacre.
On December 14, 2016, at the National Memorial day of the Nanjing Massacre, People’s Daily News reprinted the statements of the minister of Organization Department of the Communist Party of China: We must firmly establish the political consciousness, the overall situation awareness, carry forward the great patriotism, carry forward the great spirit of the Anti-Japanese War, never forget the beginning of our mind, keep moving forward and realize the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The Chinese people will unite with the international community in safeguarding international justice and the achievements of World War II, keep following the path of peaceful development.56
These articles are generally based on the morality and the concept advocated by Chinese government. These articles not only teach Chinese people not to forget the Nanjing Massacre, but also and guide Chinese people how to treat the Nanjing Massacre. For example, as mentioned above, safeguarding international justice and keep following the path of peaceful development means that even though China declares that China will keep the path of peaceful development and not use force to repeat the historical tragedy, it also means the Chinese people should understand the country's choices from the perspective of the country, defeat the country's choices and rationally treat the Nanjing massacre.
4.2.2 The Response From China’s Major New Media Platforms
The event, which was reported by the Japanese media and forwarded by the Chinese
56 Sun Dengzhong (2014). Do Not Forget The National Shame, Keep Nanjing Massacre In Mind. People's Daily News Press.
38 domestic media, had aroused strong indignation among the Chinese people and triggered a wave of protests in the Internet. After Chinese Foreign Ministry made a official statement, the major media had responded it positively and timely. Web sites of various nature, categories and sizes have launched special subjects on the theme of “Nagoya Mayor, Japan Denied Nanjing Massacre" and "Undeniable Nanjing Massacre". As the tools of helping government to share official attitudes, Sina, Sohu, Netease, Tencent, Phoenix Network, Xinhuanet and other domestic key portals opened up the topic for the first time, and published the progress and responses of this event from all sides and made in-depth reporting and analysis on the Nanjing massacre and the conflicts related to China and Japan. Some influential Chinese communities and forums such as Tianya, Chinadotcom Corporation and so on have also appeared in thousands of thematic net posts and formed the hot topic.57
Figure 6: The Homepage of Sina on Reporting Nagoya Mayor's Denial of Nanjing Massacre58
Taking the case of Sina's special report "Nanjing Suspend the Official Contacts with
57 Wang Qiang (December 6, 2016). The Role of Social Media in rebuilding Net Public Opinion Environment", People's Daily News Press
58 http://jiangsu.sina.com.cn/z/njxbdj/
39 Nagoya" (http://news.sina.com.cn/z/njnagoya/) which was founded in February 2012 as an example, after setting up "The Latest Progress", "Introducing Parties," "Comments" , "Weibo Hot Discussion" and other columns, Sina also opened up a "Video Coverage" column at the same time, to cite the relevant reports of major television stations at home and abroad, and provide netizens with comments and exchange platforms. Other portals such as Ifeng-news also opened up similar video reporting zones and used their own advantages in television news coverage to produce relevant video programs for in-depth analysis and discussion. In the meantime, some in-depth reports on the massacre, such as "Cultural Reflection: Japan Does Not Plead Guilty," "Understanding of Japan's Right-Wing Forces," and " The Root of Denying the Nanjing Massacre," continued to appear in the network. In addition, traditional media such as newspapers and radio use their own network platforms to conduct network communication through electronic newspapers, mobile newspapers and Internet radio, etc. to exchange and interact with Internet users. The combination of the professional traditional media and the interactive network makes the public able to receive more comprehensive and systematic information. It deepens on the public's comprehensive understanding of the event. New media, such as Weibo, makes use of their special features to simplify the network, newspapers and video reports, which greatly enhances the efficiency of information integration and dissemination.59
Weibo, represented by Sina, Sohu and Tencent, responded to this event in a very short period of time. While forwarding all the latest news on the Internet, they also gave full play to their advantages of broad source of information, strong interaction and high degree of attention. While criticizing Kawamura's false statements and denouncing the despicable acts of Japan's right wing, netizens were proactive in responding to the so- called "doubtful point" made by Kawamura and his supporters in connection with the massacre, and provided a large amount of texts, pictures, data, videos and other evidence, to make a strong fight back. While rapidly creating hot event, the powerful
59 Ibid.
40 network dissemination through the timely delivery of Chinese official position, principles, words and deeds, feedback the public voice, set the media agenda on the basis of information integration, carry out external communication through new media such as the Internet, to affect the public opinion of the Japanese government, the Chinese people and the international community to promote the prudent treatment of its government.60
4.2.3 The Response From China’s Netizen
After Kawamura's words were reported by the Japanese media, it was rapidly forwarded by Chinese major domestic media and spread rapidly through the Internet, caused an uproar in the public opinion in China and quickly launched a wave of powerful protests and counterattacks on the Internet. The words and actions of Takashi Kawamura further aroused the anger of the Chinese people, Chinese netizen called for a boycott of traveling to Nagoya; the Nagoya government website was attacked by hackers, the home page was affixed with the slogan "Must Recognize the Nanjing Massacre".
Tianya People's Daily CHINADOT Sina Sohu Tencent Other New Communty Online COM Weibo Weibo Weibo Media Platforms
50800 228000 261008 1053612 177000 156240 360005
Table 2: The Number of Chinese Internet Users Who Care About The Nagoya Mayor’s Denial
of Nanjing Massacre61
When Kawamura's comments were first published by the media and the Internet, almost
60 Peng Lan. (2016). Vanishing Media Boundaries. Journalism and Writing Press
61 Shen Yang (2012). China Internet Public Opinion Report, 2012. Wuhan University Internet Science Research Center Press
41 all public concerns and protests focused on the denial of the massacre by Japanese officials. With this event had received the widespread concern, the words "Nanjing officials did not refute Kawamura face to face" began to become the keywords reported and forwarded by online media and Internet users. As mentioned in many reports, the "Two parties exchanged the gifts after talks" further stimulated the nerves of Internet users, the new media quickly helped Chinese netizen formed a blame on the related officials. Some official background media and figures also said it was unacceptable, as Hu Xijin, chief editor of the Global Times, said in a Weibo: "In the case of a reputation crisis, the most important thing for an official is frankness. To face up to public opinion in good faith and dare to face the mayor of Nagoya's provocation, it needs courage." Besides these, People's Network Jiangsu channel headlines published the article" Liu Zhiwei's 'good temper' makes Chinese people blush "; Zhu Chengshan, the curator of Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall in Sina micro-interviews were asked if when he was at that scene, what he would do. He answered that: "I will immediately refute him and advise the Chinese delegation leave immediately."62
Figure 7: Zhu Chengshan, Director of the Nanjing Massacre Memorial Compatriots, Responded to
62 Li Xu(February 23, 2012). Japanese Records Show: Nanjing Officials Did Not Refute Face to Face. Southern Metropolis Daily Press
42 Questions from Chinese Netizen on Nanjing Massacre in Weibo63
In response to Kawamura's denial of the massacre in Nanjing, while the Internet started to refute comments, various evidences related to reveal the Nanjing massacre have also emerged. Experts, scholars, government officials, historical witnesses, government agencies, social groups and ordinary Internet users provided a large amount of direct or indirect historical evidence through the Internet, including various pictures, texts, videos, testimonies, oral history, secret files, and relics and so on. In a short period of time, the crimes which happened during the Nanjing massacre were rapidly forwarded by netizen through Internet forums, communities, Weibo, personal websites and news websites. While further revealing the crimes of the Japanese army, the netizen interpreted it from the perspective of "Nanjing regards Nagoya as a friendly city and gave gifts to their government officials." This understanding further reinforced the pressure of public opinion on the Internet about the poor response of the Nanjing municipal government, the toughness of the Nanjing Municipal Government, the improper consideration of developing a friendly city, and so on.64
Figure 8: The Nanjing Massacre Pictures Provided by Chinese Netizen on Baidu Baike65
63 http://talk.weibo.com/ft/201202224066
64 China New Media Development Report No.6 (2015) [M]. Beijing: Social Sciences Academic Press, 2015.
65 http://so.baike.com/s/tupian/Nanjing Massacre
43 4.3 The Results of This Event
After Chinese government responded Nagoya Mayor’s denial of Nanjing Massacre repeatedly, some media, social groups and politicians in Japan have also successively expressed their criticism on Kawamura's speech and urged him to withdraw his words. Faced with the criticisms and accusations made both from Japan and abroad, Kawamura refused to accept it and on February 22, February 27, March 8 and March 13, Kawamura said in public several times that he had no intention of recalling the relevant words and publicly questioned the death tolls of the Chinese army and people in the massacre.
Even though the statements from China’s government, China’s media and China’s netizen had not changed Kawamura’s mind successfully, the power of China’s new media diplomacy still made a good effect on recognizing this history for several Japanese people. Faced with the dissatisfaction expressed by the Chinese people in the new media, more and more Japanese people and civil organizations became to realize Nanjing Massacre. They arrived at Nanjing to visit the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders to recognize and rethink this dark history. Like several Japanese scholars, Matsuoka Huan, a Japanese lawyer, in order to know the real history, she went to Nanjing to visit the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders, and introduced it to the Japanese public and call for watching the documentary related to the Nanjing massacre after she came back to Japan. 66
About two years later, after her first visit to Nanjing, Matsuoka Huan began to organize a special delegation to visit China, the "Historical Study Group of Japanese War of Aggression Against China," and brought Japanese people to China to study the history
66 Liu Junguo(December 12, 2014). Japanese Conscience, Mending Torn Memory. People's Daily News Press,
44 of Japanese aggression against China. So far, Matsuoka Huan have already led a total of about 700 Japanese people visit the Memorial Hall of the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre. After much communication with Chinese university teachers and students, these young people in Japan have greatly broadened their horizons. They expressed that they got a great deal of historical knowledge that could not be learned in Japan through this special trip. After the came back to Japan, many of these young people aspired to work as journalists and teachers. Matsuoka Huan said, "Everything I do is for better development in Japan, and I sincerely hope Japan can write a war of aggression in its textbooks so as to educate the next generation, draw lessons from history to explore the future."67
Until 2017, this event is still not subsided. According to a report by Japan's Asahi Shimbun on January 23, 2017, Nagoya Mayor of Japan Kawamura made a comment on placing a right-wing book that denied the Nanjing massacre in Japan's APA Hotel guest rooms，he said that "Do not mind what's in the books, it's not a big deal" and he expressed his understanding of the APA Hotel's behavior. On January 23, 2017, Kawamura once again made a statement on the 1937 Nanjing massacre at a press conference. "There is no so-called Nanjing massacre. As China says that 300,000 people were brutally murdered, if it is true, all the Japanese should go to Nanjing kneeling. "68 Since 2012, Nanjing suspended the friendly relationship with Nagoya city, the sister city relationship between Nanjing and Nagoya has not been recovered.69
In 2014, China officially submitted the "Nanjing Massacre Archives" to UNESCO’s World Memory Project Secretariat. UNESCO announced in October 2015 that China's
67 Ibid
68 Mayor of Nagoya Supports Right-wing Hotel and claims "There is no Nanjing Massacre", Published by World Wide Web. January 23th, 2017
69 "Nagoya Mayor Denied Nanjing Massacre, Nagoya was Sister City of Nanjing". Asahi Shimbun, January 23, 2017
45 "Nanjing Massacre Files" had been successfully listed in the "World Memory List." It is a recognition by UNESCO of the authenticity of the Nanjing Massacre Archives. Eyewitness Diaries, Photographic Films, Court Testimony, Chinese Handwritten Diary, Japanese Atrocity Photos, Survivor Testimony, Nanjing Military Tribunal War Criminals 'Judgment, Investigative Evidence, and Citizens' Case Files, all these 11 files are first-hand Historical data which strongly testifies to the Nanjing Massacre. So far, Nanjing massacre has been recognized worldwide and has risen from Chinese memory to human memory.70
4.4 The Impact of New Media on Sino-Japanese Relations
4.4.1 Leading to Civil Hostility, the Friendly Relations Between the Two Countries Have Been Hit Hard
The Chinese comments on Nagoya Mayor’s denial Nanjing Massacre from the internet can be divided into two categories, one is the abuse of Japan, and including express Chinese people want to force to avenge Japan. And the other is to express themselves that they will never travel to Japan, no longer buy Japanese products. Among them, the highest rate of swearword word is shameless, and then the Chinese characteristic "倭" appears. This term was used to refer to Japan in ancient China, now it basically describes the contempt for Japan, with obscene and short meanings. The Chinese people through such words to express their anger on the Internet. The entire comment section about Japanese news exudes an aura of hatred against Japan.71
Overall, the establishment and development of new media will help people in different countries to understand the basic situation of other countries, know more other countries’
70 Wang Yuan. (October 11, 2015) "Nanjing massacre files" Has Been Included In the World Memory List. People’s Daily News Press
71 Zhang Yizhen (2015), "Research Analysis on the Nanjing Massacre Reports", Shandong University Press
46 ethnic feelings, history and culture, so as to increase mutual understanding and trust among countries and lay a good foundation for diplomacy at the government level. This is the active role of new media. However, on the other hand, due to the freedom of options on the Internet, as well as the mass and uncomfortable monitoring of information dissemination, it makes the false information flooding. When people make the mutual understanding and communication based on these information, it is easily misunderstood. Once the conflict based on national feelings is guided and utilized by the related personnel or organizations, it may even lead to citizens having opposite emotions on other countries.72
The relations between the two countries have become hotter and colder based on the public opinion’s fluctuation of the network.73 Almost all changes of Chinese public opinion on Japan are attached to some major emergencies, or related by the network hot issues.74 For example, in the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, a photo of a group of Japanese relief workers in China who paid a tribute to the remains of the victims extensively spread through the Internet and won the favor of the Internet users in China to some extent. For this picture, many new media’s comment area, like Tencent Weibo, Sina Weibo, Sohu Weibo were filled with positive comments. Take the article "Japanese Rescue Team in Wenchuan" from Sina Blog as an example, the blogger says that: In the international rescue teams in Wenchuan, there is an orange team, they are the Japanese rescue team. Although our nationality is different, put aside all prejudices, we should say to them: "Thank you!"75
72 INGRID HOOGHE.(2017). The Rise of China’s Public Diplomacy[M]. Netherlands Institute of International Relations Press
73 Wan, M. (2009). Sino-Japanese Relations: Interaction, Logic, and Transformation. Stanford: Stanford University Press.
74 Shen Yang (2012). China Internet Public Opinion Report, 2012. Wuhan University Internet Science Research Center Press
75 "There is a Japanese Rescue Team in WenChuan", Sina Blog Forward, 17 May 2008 (http://blog.sina.com.cn/wukai3671487)
47
Figure 9: Japanese Search and Rescue Workers Mourn the Remains of the Wenchuan Earthquake
Victims76
However, when the Japanese patrol boats visited the Diaoyu Islands in September 2010 and collided with Chinese fishing boats, the relations between the two sides immediately cooled down. From the scolding of civilians to the protests of the government, there were full of dissatisfaction and confrontation on Chinese Internet. In the comment area of Netease News’ Special report on this event, there are 3883467 netizens has taken part in making comments. Most of the comments from Chinese netizens showed their anger and protests, such like: If Japan does not apologize, we must end all cooperation; the attitude of the country should be tougher; If China and Japan start a war, I immediately to to join the army; the evil Japanese should disappear from the earth.77
76 "Wenchuan Earthquake: The Work Site of Japanese Rescue Team", Xinhua Daily News, August 25, 2009
77 "Chinese fishing boats collided with Japanese patrol ships and Sino-Japanese disputes escalated "， Netease News Reports, 2010 (http://comment.news.163.com/news_guonei8_bbs/SPEC00016G0LB8FF.html)
48 In March 2011, Japan experienced a major earthquake and a tsunami that led to a nuclear leak at the Fukushima nuclear power plant. China dispatched an international rescue team and provided material assistance, which improved the diplomatic relations between China and Japan to some extent. At that time, many netizens shifted their focus to major natural disasters and the serious consequences based on their personal experiences and emotional trauma through Sina Weibo, Tencent Weibo, etc. They showed their sympathy for Japanese citizens and actively carried out civilian consolation and rescue activities. In Sina Blog, there is an article shows that: In the face of evil nature, we are all the same, we are all compatriots on the front. We can only pray for them now and bless them! Think of the positive performance and the humanitarian spirit of the Japanese rescue team in the Wenchuan earthquake, let us hold up the umbrella of love, to soothe the injured heart!78 The relationship between Chinese and Japanese began to show a friendly and interactive situation in the Internet.
Nagoya's denial of the Nanjing Massacre is yet another blow to the Sino-Japanese relations that are moving towards sound interaction. The hostile popular opinion that has just resumed is surging and the relations between the two countries have suddenly cooled down. The hostile public opinion that has just resumed is surging again and the relations between the two countries have suddenly cooled down.79
4.4.2 Making Chinese Government Have To Respond This Event Seriously
According to rough statistics, as of April 20, 2012, the number of web posts on this event had exceeded 100,000, with more than 6 million Weibo and more than 10 million Internet users participating.80 New media has played an important role in promoting
78 "Pray", Sina Blog Forward, 11 March 2011 (http://blog.sina.com.cn/wukai3671487)
79 "Disaster Diplomacy is Hard to Change Sino-Japanese Relations," Japan's Diplomatic Scholar, April 17th, 2014
80 Zhou Haiyan (2014). Research on New Media and Collective Memory: Review and Reflection. 49 the government's cautious approach through transmitting the official foreign ministry and the Nanjing municipal government's position, giving feedback to the public opinion.81
At the governmental level, neither China nor Japan hoped this event would have a significant impact on the bilateral relations. However, the flooding of Chinese public opinion on the Internet had made it impossible for the government to remain silent. No matter the statements made by the Nanjing delegation to Japan, Nanjing municipal government, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Japanese government departments, their positions and the statements were even more forced by the pressure of online public opinion sound.82
In view of the consideration of national interests and the complexity of the diplomatic decision-making process, the public opinion on the Internet still can hardly really affect the foreign policy-making of a country.83 However, the public opinion has become a reference factor that cannot be ignored in the government's diplomatic activities. What can be confirmed is that according to the characteristics and laws of the development of Internet hot events, although this event may not be long-term concerns by the vast majority of Internet users, as long as the Japanese parties fail to reflect and apologize in accordance with the wishes of the Chinese government and citizens, especially the majority of Internet users, if similar events happen again, the Chinese Internet users would rake up the past again. Then the Chinese government's position and attitude will continue to be tough, the Japanese side will also go through the statements and condemn
Shanghai Education Press
81 Wang Fang (2013). Application Analysis of New Media in China. Shanghai University Publishing
82 Wang Fang (2013). Application Analysis of New Media in China. Shanghai University Publishing
83 World Association for Public Opinion Research. (2011). Public opinion and the internet. Lincoln: WAPOR
50 of the official, semi-official personnel and institutions to achieve the buffer and harmony of the relations between the two countries based on the principle that not changing the facts and eliminating the influence.84
Under the promotion of the strong Chinese online public opinion, The Nanjing municipal government showed a very strong reaction in this event. After Nanjing municipal suspends the official contacts with Nagoya city government on 21 February 2012, a variety of non-governmental economic and cultural exchange activities had also been canceled. The Chinese government had forced Japan to make an introspection and apology by taking actual actions. However, for the moment, little has been achieved. To put it in a nutshell, Kawamura refused to withdraw his speech repeatedly had made Nanjing into an awkward position. On the one hand, the Chinese government had to account for the people in the country, especially the public opinion on the Internet. On the other hand, Chinese government needed to find a way that both sides could recognize and accept to resolve the current confrontation. Under the concern of the broad masses of the people, every Nanjing municipal government's movement had been widened. How to maintain the integrity and safeguard the national interests without losing the benefits of foreign economic, cultural and other exchanges would be a test that combined by courage and wisdom for Chinese government.85
84 "New Media and Public Diplomacy: Making Good Use of Folk Voice". Public Diplomacy Network. April 10th, 2014
85 Wang Tao (July 17, 2013). Public Diplomacy Entering the Internet Age. People's Daily News Press.
51 CHAPTER V
CONCLUSION
New media is a kind of interactive media which depends on the Internet and digital communication technology, it pays attention to the information interaction, and the audience is very wide. With the maturity of new media technologies and the continuous deepening of globalization, new media has become a new tool for a country to carry out its diplomatic activities. 86 Under the background of information age, the development of new media has made important influences on international relations. In its positive role, it can help a country enhance its sense of presence and popularity; shape the country's image in the international community; and promote the establishment and promotion of the right of speech so that the country can push forward the development of the international situation in its own right through the power of spreading information.87
However, under the background of information globalization, the national sovereignty, national security and diplomatic decision-making activities have been newly affected. As for the national sovereignty, non-state actors have been given more capacity in foreign affairs and the state has been given new challenges in controlling its information. In the area of national security, the concept of national security has been extended to the cyberspace. In the aspect of the country's foreign policy-making, the diplomatic decision-making activities in the new media era need to pay more attention to public
86 Breakenridge, D. (2009). PR 2.0: New Media, New Tools, New Audiences. Upper Saddle River, N.J: FT Press
87 Rana, K. S. (2011). 21st-Century Diplomacy: A Practitioner''s Guide. New York: Bloomsbury Publishing.
52 opinions.88
From the description and analysis of the thesis, we can clearly recognize that: Firstly, with the popularity of the Internet in China, more and more Chinese people are beginning to know the world and share their perspectives through new media on the Internet. Secondly, new media has already become an important tool for Chinese government to spread information, show its official attitudes, collect public opinion and respond to the international remarks. Thirdly, the new media has played a boosting role in the trend of Sino-Japanese relations, it means that if Chinese government through official new media to report some positive things of Japan, China's public opinion toward Japan will also tend toward a positive side. If Chinese government through official new media to report some negative things of Japan, China's public opinion toward Japan will also tend toward a negative side. On the one hand, Chinese government can through new media to influence public opinions to get the public support and make the public understand government’s decisions. On the other hand, the strong public opinion expressed in the new media also makes the government need to be more cautious before making decisions.
In responding the case of Nagoya Mayor’s denial of Nanjing Massacre from 2012 to 2017, new media has played its important role. In the past six years, the number of new media reports on the Nanjing massacre has been gradually increasing, which shows that the intensity of the use of new media is also on the rise. The sister city relations between Nanjing and Nagoya has not been recovered since 2012 due to Nagoya mayor’s denial of Nanjing Massacre, the Chinese government constantly through the new media to make the Nanjing Massacre enter the public eyes to respond the denial of Nanjing Massacre, which has an important impact on strengthening the memory of the Nanjing
88 Wang Wen.(2013) New Media’s Challenges to Diplomacy. World Knowledge Press
53 massacre for Chinese people. Constantly through the new media to respond the denial of Nanjing Massacre, it can not only spread Chinese government’s official attitudes timely and quickly to Chinese public, but also can show Chinese government’s strong fight back to Japanese denial of Nanjing Massacre.
With the continuous rise of China's strength, how to express the Chinese government's attitude, enhance China's international voice and construct China's international image through new media has become an important issue in China's diplomatic work. It is necessary for China to create a more friendly national image in the international community through communicating with different ideologies, cultures and promote mutual understanding and cooperation with the international community in the exchange. Faced with the challenges under the new media era, China should change its attitude on new media, tries to focus on raising the hardware level, seizing the technological commanding height, improving the supervision system of new media dissemination, earnestly strengthening the international communication capability and actively grasping diplomatic initiative.
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60