The Chinese military has come up with some advice for would-be recruits on how to pass physical tests, sparking amusement among social media users. In an online post, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) blamed overconsumption of fizzy drinks, excessive computer gaming and even masturbation for the poor health of young people. It said physical test failure rates had reached an "alarming high", with at least half of the candidates failing in one city. The military has been struggling to find recruits in recent years, despite its heavy promotion of patriotic "heroes" and military TV and film dramas.
