A metaphorical narrative of outer space in China’s diplomacy. Toward a heavenly ‘community of common destiny’

Conceiving metaphors as communication tools used to frame international strategic issues, the present paper focuses on Xi Jinping’s metaphorical narrative of humanity as a community with a shared future, one of the core tenets in the current PRC’s diplomatic discourse. Specifically, the essay tries to shed light on a new context in which this metaphor has recently begun to be used, that is China’s space diplomacy. In doing so, the essay briefly presents the concept of ‘community of common destiny for humankind’; then it focuses on how this formula is being associated with outer space, seeking also to decipher its strategic function, aimed at challenging the US space leadership.