Chinese media coverage of the UK elections

The year 2024 might be called the Year of Elections. There are 64 countries–which are home to almost half the world’s population–holding elections this year. These elections promise not only to scramble domestic politics, but also to reshape foreign relations as new governments form new alliances.

At FilterLabs, we recently expanded our coverage to include China. While gathering and analyzing data from mainstream Chinese news outlets, we noticed some interesting patterns around the recent UK elections:

The sentiment around UK elections moved in three distinct phases, and a sudden switch in direction usually means that a new narrative is moving through the media ecosystem. Using Talisman–our data platform that can look into the actual news stories and artifacts underlying a sentiment shift–we looked for the narratives driving this movement.

The first shift happened between June 24 and July 1, when sentiment fell. Looking more closely, we found that Chinese news sources were giving significant coverage to a betting scandal, in which Conservative, Labour, and Liberal Democratic candidates all allegedly placed bets on election outcomes.

The second shift happened July 2 to 3, when sentiment suddenly soared. There’s no mystery here, though. This was election day in the UK, and the great majority of the coverage focused on Labour’s big win.

What was really interesting, however, was the third shift. From July 4 to 7, sentiment fell and then stabilized. The betting scandal was in the past, and the Chinese media now focused on the future. There were many stories about the new Prime Minister’s wife, and most of them called her “beautiful” or “stunning.” There were also stories about a certain female Labour member of Parliament: the first Chinese-born person to ever hold such a position.

In general, there was a sense of excitement. Several articles mentioned the possibility of a new phase in British-Sino relations, with the implication that the UK has been too close to the US in recent years, but with the ascension of the new Prime Minister Keir Starmer the future might be different. “He is 61 years old and comes from a working-class family!” one article exclaimed.

Many more elections to come in the months ahead. What will the mood and the key narratives be—both in the countries casting their ballots, and among observers around the world? We'll be watching.

Header: Summer staff picks from FilterLabs

For the summer, the FilterLabs Newsletter will feature recommendations from our team. This week, we share some favorite summer food and drinks.

Fajitas and margaritas on the rocks. I especially like the fajitas when they’re cooked in a cast iron skillet over a campfire or grill. Fajitas actually originated in Texas; the only part of them from Mexico is the cut of the meat. Margaritas pair well with spicy food, but for a non-alcoholic summer beverage, unsweetened ice tea with lemon is always refreshing and energizing.
—Katherine Huerta, Data Engineer

I recently tried and really liked this arinato. While a boozier affair, it’s fairly light as far as mezcal cocktails go. I didn’t have the Lillet Blanc, so I used Cocchi Americano, which is pretty similar. Good luck finding the Yellow Chartreuse, though.
—Eric Winter, Data Curation Manager

I recently discovered tinto de verano, a Spanish drink with red wine, sweet vermouth, lemon-lime soda and ice. It might not be the most sophisticated drink in the world but it's the absolute best on a hot day. It’s also fun to customize with different types of wine and soda!
—Miriam Israel, Data Curator

Despite its rising popularity in recent years, rosé remains under-appreciated—and underpriced! I recently enjoyed a Pinot Noir rosé from Oregon’s Willamette Valley (Samuel Robert Vintner's Reserve, 2022, $14.99 at my local store). It was dark magenta in the glass and had a lovely nose of strawberries and watermelon. But it was no fruit bomb. The first sip revealed a tangy citrus backbone that balanced its sweetness perfectly. As always, the rule is complex wine, simple food, so I paired it with a lightly charred Nathan’s all-beef hotdog. It was bliss.
—Paul Gleason, Lead Newsletter Writer

Summer is my favorite time for interesting salads, especially ones that combine big flavors you might not expect to pair. Two of my current favorites are this watermelon–tomato salad with basil, mozzarella, shallots, and a slightly sweet lemon-vinegar dressing, and this arugula–quinoa–peach–cherry tomato–pickled onion situation.
—Elizabeth Zarling, Executive Assistant to the CEO

Ouzo. It’s a licorice-flavored liqueur. Initially that was a flavor that I actively disliked, but I lived in Greece for a year, and I came around to it as a summer evening ritual. I think some people drink it as a digestif, but I was introduced to it as a before-dinner drink with simple appetizers (olives, cheese, etc.). It’s served over ice with a splash of water that transforms it from clear to cloudy. An acquired taste for me for sure, but these days it’s a favorite—refreshing, and a comparatively affordable return ticket to Athens.
—Peter Moench, Data Curator