This paper sought to analyse how China used news outlets to influence foreign audience’sviews about the South China Sea conflict. The dispute concerns the ownership of certainislands and their maritime zones. The study was conducted through the theory of strategicnarratives, which explains that states use storytelling as a method to shape the opinions ofcertain audiences. To answer the research question, the paper conducted a qualitativenarrative analysis. The results of the analysis showed that China often used stories whichfocused on cooperation when discussing other states in the region. However, they oftendescribed external states and other rivals in negative ways. By doing so, they could emphasisethat Beijing’s policies and perspective is correct while the other actors only aim to cause instability.