Third International Conference on Communication & Media Studies

Abstract

The primary purpose of this study is examining Taiwanese soldiers’ risk perception and behavior intentions on a global focal issue - cross-strait relationships between Taiwan and China. On July 21, 2017, the Ministry of National Defense of ROC first announced photos of the IDF fighter of the 443rd Tainan Air Force Base shadowed Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) military aircraft on July 20th. Although PLA declared that this offshore training is routine, its flight route is a “fly around Taiwan”, which poses a severe threat to national security. PLA has not yet given up its use of force to resolve the political issue between Taiwan and China. Facing the constant threats, Taiwanese soldiers must maintain the risk perception of the possible war. Therefore, this study surveyed Taiwan (ROC), military troops of fifteen companies (n=690) to examine risk communication model in the PLA aircraft flew bombers around Taiwan issue. A regression analysis revealed that (1)Taiwan soldiers’ level of war risk perception differed from their media use (with three versions of media exposure, media attention, and interpersonal communication), especially for internet news attention in the cross-strait war risk. (2) Political trust mediated between media use and war risk perception. (3) Soldiers’ level of war risk perception positively predicted risk acceptance, policy support, and behavioral intention. The research also discussed Taiwanese media and politics’ roles in the risk society. The contributions of this study provide practical suggestions on military communication strategies on internal organizations and political partners.