Chinese military designs aerobics for soldiers

Soldiers across the country soon will enjoy aerobics specially designed for them.

The General Political Department of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) issued the first soldier aerobics program recently, the PLA Daily reported Friday, adding that aerobics will be popularized among the whole army and armed police force.

The 5-minute long aerobics routine combines fighting moves, pop dance and tai chi. The movements are masculine and smooth, and the background music is swift and rhythmic.

Choreographed by the PLA Academy of Art, soldier aerobics aims to build a military culture with Chinese characteristics, improve the military's fighting capacity and facilitate soldiers' overall development.

The aerobics was taught in a trial to a dozen troops in Beijing last year. Soldiers said it's a suitable recreational activity and fitness exercise for the military as it's easy to learn and can be practiced during training breaks.

Experts say that aerobics has an obvious effect on bodybuilding. If soldiers practice it in the long run, their physical and mental quality will be improved.

The "Reform and Development of Military Physical Training (2015-2020)" guideline released in February links soldiers' weight to promotion. Those failing to meet weight standards might lose the chance of promotion.

Military physical training is "a basic way of enhancing soldiers and officers' physical and mental quality" and helps cultivate combat power, the guideline said.