Public attitudes toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in China: A text mining analysis

Abstract

This paper investigates how Weibo serves as a symbolic space for Chinese public opinion on the October 2023 Israeli-Palestinian conflict through a text mining analysis of Weibo posts. Using Named Entity Recognition, emotion analysis, topic clustering, and opinion mining, the study reveals key themes, entities, and emotional responses among Chinese netizens. The analysis shows that Chinese netizens express views on humanitarian concerns, calls for peace, support for Palestinian national liberation, and demands for accurate information. Emotion-opinion cross-analysis reveals that their responses are shaped by a mix of emotions, including anger towards external geopolitical forces, fear and sadness regarding humanitarian impacts, and hope for peace and resolution. These emotions illustrate the complex interplay between humanitarian concerns, political stances, and support for diplomacy, demonstrating Weibo’s role as a platform for amplifying public sentiment. The study also examines how Chinese public opinion aligns with the Chinese government’s stance on international affairs. Findings indicate broad support for the government’s diplomatic efforts, such as calls for ceasefire, humanitarian aid, and mediation. This alignment reflects an expectation for China to actively contribute to global peace and stability. Additionally, the study uncovers critical perspectives on external influences, with many netizens criticizing perceived biases in international responses and advocating for a balanced, multilateral diplomatic approach. Overall, this research highlights how a distant geopolitical crisis is understood in China’s socio-political context, revealing an emerging global consciousness among Chinese netizens. This shift, facilitated by Weibo, reflects a movement from a state-centric narrative to an active public engagement with global issues.