At a point when China’s engagement with the global market, particularly in trade and investment, is unprecedented in both its in- tensity and its breadth, the image that China has in the international arena is ambivalent and confusing, as can be seen in reports on China in the mass media. Its economic growth is often reported as ‘dazzling’ and ‘amazing’.Yet it is also plagued by negative images, such as pollution, rural unrest, a deplorable human rights track record, infringement of intellectual property rights and severe energy shortage.