![[Translate to Englisch:] Bildschirmbilder](/fileadmin/_processed_/a/2/csm_Bildschirmbilder_7f1d913ab6.jpg)
![[Translate to Englisch:] Projektübersicht](/fileadmin/_processed_/9/c/csm_Projektuebersicht_cdfbf31649.png)
Project Description
CHINARATRACK aims to innovatively identify risks associated with cooperation projects with the People’s Republic of China through a systematic analysis of China’s domestic and foreign communications. To this end, the project team analyzes the emergence and development of frames and narratives based on continuous media monitoring. Data collection covers five different levels of communication related to China: state-controlled media, expert platforms, social media in China, accounts of Chinese actors outside China, and follow-up reporting by German journalists. Three languages are included: Chinese, English, and German.
The project addresses key questions that ensure comparability across the policy areas under investigation as well as overall coherence:
1. What frames and narrative patterns can be identified and modeled within the defined thematic areas?
2. What actionable insights can be derived for academia and policymakers?
CHINARATRACK analyzes the data using an interdisciplinary and integrated methodological approach drawing on computational linguistics (automated corpus analysis and training of language models), communication studies (including machine-based identification of actors and topics, and framing analysis), and Sinology, which contributes specific expertise in source selection and interpretation.
By analyzing key frames, associated narratives, and communicative processes, the project contributes to a better understanding of the interplay between the Party, the state, the economy, society, and academia in the People’s Republic of China. It continuously tracks public opinion and the processes by which it is formed, highlighting the communicated strategies, potential, and implications of Chinese policy in the areas of energy/environment and foreign policy, as well as current developments in the global Chinese cyberspace (legal and political frameworks governing the media).
Project Team
Zhiling Dong, M.A.
![[Translate to Englisch:] Zhiling Dong](/fileadmin/_processed_/c/4/csm_Dong_Zhiling_ec902ae264.jpeg "[Translate to Englisch:] Zhiling Dong")
Academic Background
June 2015–September 2019: Bachelor of Arts – Chinese Literature (major), Political Science (minor) – National Chung Cheng University
Oct. 2019–Sept. 2020: Exchange Program – Political Science and English Literature – Friedrich Schiller University of Jena
Oct. 2020–Mar. 2026: Master of Arts – Modern Sinology (Major), Digital Humanities (Minor) – Georg August University of Göttingen
Research Interests
Political communication, cross-lingual research using NLP, multilingual LLM applications and their optimization
Work Focus
Coordination and development of pipelines for narrative extraction using LLMs; quality assurance and further development of analysis results; application of computer-aided methods for multilingual text analysis
Wutao Wen, M.Sc.
![[Translate to Englisch:] Porträt Wutao Wen](/fileadmin/_processed_/0/0/csm_csm_Wutao_Wen_88141e3b04_061f399ecb.png)
“The limits of my language mean the limits of my world.”
(Wittgenstein)
Academic Background
2010–2015: Bachelor’s Degree – Media Culture (Bauhaus University Weimar)
2015–2018: Master’s Degree – Market and Media Studies (Cologne University of Applied Sciences)
Master’s thesis topic: Analysis of the Potential of Chinese Brands in Germany
2018–present: Project Manager at rheingold Institute for Market and Media Research
Research Interests
Market and Media Studies, Political Communication in China, Morphological Depth Psychology,
Work Focus
Qualitative content analysis of Chinese, English, and German news articles; design of narrative and framing concepts; manual evaluation of LLM results
Hannah Reinert (B.A.)
![[Translate to Englisch:] Porträt Hannah Reinert](/fileadmin/_processed_/e/7/csm_Hannah_Reinert_Webseite_860208e0ed.jpg)
“Many ordinary people in many small places who take many small steps can change the face of the world.”
(African proverb)
Academic Background
Since Mar. 2023: M.A. program “China: Tradition and Future,” University of Trier
Oct. 2019–Mar. 2023: Bachelor’s degree in Chinese Studies and Media Studies (double major), University of Trier
09/2024–07/2025: Chinese language studies at Peking University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
Work Focus
Researching Chinese media sources; coding for qualitative case studies
Miriam Scharley (M.A.)
![[Translate to Englisch:] Miriam Scharley Porträt](/fileadmin/_processed_/3/3/csm_Miriam_Scharley_Webseite_a0922f39e7.jpeg)
Academic Background
2023-2026: Master’s degree in Media Studies, University of Trier
2018–2023: Bachelor’s degree in Media Studies and English Language and Literature, University of Trier
Research Interests
Analysis of media framing processes in reporting on sexual violence, particularly with regard to perpetrator-victim narratives and victim blaming; qualitative investigation of visual and linguistic interpretation patterns in digital news media.
Work Focus
Research and monitoring of social media accounts of German-speaking journalists covering China; coding and analysis of frames and narratives in case studies
