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