Critical Discourse Analysis Based on Halliday’s Systemic Functional Linguistics: Taking The Economist’s First Commentation on the End of China’s Zero-COVID Policy as an Example

Based on Halliday’s systemic functional grammar, especially the ideational function, this research aims at disclosing hidden ideologies and values of seemingly objective news reports China’s COVID-19 policies in The Economist. Transitivity, voice, nominalization are major analytical subjects. After China lifted zero-COVID policy, western media began criticizing lack data sharing, with some misinformation misleading reports. denouncement inertness reluctance to fight against pandemic disclaim Chinese government’s efforts depreciate image. is portrayed as villain destroyer people’s health worldwide. Meanwhile, they also hold a hesitant attitude toward diplomacy. re-engaging foreign countries travel restrictions have been described imprudent rushed actions. They consider fuse contradiction United Nations. What overt their view breaking up China.