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)