Chinese soldiers get bigger, requiring new gear to match

Changes in the average physique of Chinese soldiers over the past 20 years have created a need for newer and larger armaments.

The PLA Daily cited research findings on Tuesday by an unidentified institute of the PLA General Armament Department that today's average Chinese soldier is 2 cm taller and has a waistline 5 centimeters larger than the average 20 years ago.

The findings come from a survey began in 2009 of more than 20,000 soldiers in the PLA's ground force. The survey measured and analyzed the body size, strength and other factors. Because the soldiers' average size has grown, larger military equipment is urgently needed, the researchers said.