China's pandemic communication transformed under global pressure, shifting from zero-COVID to coexistence

China's COVID-19 communication shifted significantly due to international pressure, moving from "zero-COVID" to a coexistence strategy. Transnational influences from organizations like the WHO and global markets prompted changes in China's official messaging, with policy adjustments often following international cues by 7 to 21 days. The study highlights how China used "semantic governance," altering language to frame policy changes as improvements, potentially obscuring risks for vulnerable groups during transitions.