On April 25, a China Central Television (CCTV) staff reporter
visited the Direct Supply Bureau of the Chinese People's Liberation
Army (PLA) General Logistics Department to see the army's new
casual summer uniforms for this year.
The change of uniform reflects the PLA's significantly upgraded
logistics capacity as well as improved welfare for its military
personnel.
The replacement of Dacron fabric, which has been used in the
casual uniform for decades, with a wool-like material makes a real
difference to servicemen and women, reducing maintenance and
improving fighting ability.
In a computerized multilevel warehouse complex more than a dozen
soldiers and several forklifts worked to load trucks to dispatch
the uniforms to everyone who needs them.
From May 1, an important national holiday in China, all PLA
soldiers will wear the new-style uniforms. Altogether, 133
combinations of type and size are available.
With a shift from packaging 25 suits per box to 10, the workload
of the logistics personnel increased greatly, and they had to work
overtime every day to ensure timely delivery of the uniforms.
The navy is also being equipped with new combat uniforms for
submarine and surface vessels, newly developed to reduce
consumption of physical strength, prevent skin diseases and extend
effective working hours.
Submariners will get special uniforms designed for long
missions. Compared with the uniforms used since the 1970s, the new
ones will protect them against fire, cold and moisture, greatly
enhancing their fighting capacity.
Earlier this year, the air force got rid of flight uniforms that
have been in service for 50-odd years. Their replacements have been
specially designed to enable excellent performance in training and
combat.
(China.org.cn by Wind Gu, April 29, 2005)