Big Historical Data Analysis of the China Threat Discourse among American ElitesBig Historical Data Analysis of the China Threat Discourse among American ElitesB. Yan

Despite the growing prevalence of the China threat discourse, its extensive historical complexity is seldom fully explored in existing academic literature. The article unitizes the enormous data of Google Ngram Viewer to track the evolution of the China threat discourse among American elites over the last seven decades. This article argues that understanding the China threat discourse requires a dynamic perspective that considers historical context and demonstrates that American elites’ perception of China has shifted from ideological and military hostility to concerns over China’s rising economic power and challenges that China’s political system might pose. The article suggests that the drivers underlying the China threat discourse are historically contingent and evolve alongside changes in China’s national strength and the perception of China’s politics, highlighting the significance of both material and ideational drivers in shaping the China threat discourse.