New Duds for China's Troops

"Now that the vast majority of Chinese civilians have adopted western-style clothes and trendy urbanites on the hunt for cool items in tune with world fashion trends, the 2.3 million people serving in the country's military are also doing a style catch-up," shouts the unintentionally hilarious People's Daily Online.

*Brand new ceremonial and casual uniforms -- and new battle fatigues -- were unveiled in Hong Kong on July 1, the 10th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to China, unleashing a loud hurrah from the mainland's enlisted men.
*

*Different from the "97 Style" uniforms issued to garrison troops in Hong Kong and Macao, this upgrade will allow the mainland's enlisted to cast off the baggy uniforms developed some 20 years ago and look even sharper than the garrison troops in Hong Kong and Macao.
*

• Dubbed "07 Style", the new ceremonial uniforms for the first time adopt chest insignia, a mainstay of most western military uniforms, to reveal wearers' ranks and length of service...*

*Years of peace-keeping operations with other international forces have influenced Chinese designers.
*

• "Increasing global military exchanges have upped the requirements for PLA uniforms. The new outfits fuse global trends with
  Chinese characteristics," said general Liao Xilong, chief of the PLA General Logistics Department, in an interview with Xinhua.*

(High five: Headline Junky, who's brow is furrowed over "yet another troubling indication of China's increased military spending and the growing threat it poses to American interests.")

UPDATE: Oooh. And new jeeps, too.