Chinese Soldiers Getting Addicted To Mobile Games

The huge popularity of mobile games among the rank and file of Chinese military personnel has created a controversy following the demotion of an army engineer to the lower position after he missed an important phone call because he was distracted by a mobile game.

Military experts have warned that mobile games addiction among the armed forces can pose a major threat as there is a possibility of spies planting a virus in the games to steal sensitive military information, Global Times reports.

A survey of 200 soldiers conducted by the People's Liberation Army (PLA)'s flagship newspaper, the PLA Daily, in May showed that 95.5 percent had previously played mobile games and 86 percent were regular players.

Li Daguang, a professor at the National Defense University of the PLA, told the state-run daily on Wednesday that as members of the society, soldiers should have access to the Internet and mobile phones, but they should always maintain vigilance whenever they play games.

"Mobile games should be banned in sensitive military areas and during important meetings, as spies may track down soldiers who are frequent game players or steal important military information by planting virus in some popular games," Li said.

Mobile games became hugely popular among troops soon after the Chinese military lifted its ban on mobile phones in July 2015, which allowed soldiers to play mobile games.

However, survey conducted suggested that online games can actually help with team building and overcoming fears of social interaction.

"Mobile games are a fact of life for the younger generation. We should be embracing this, instead of repressing it. Through the proper guidance, soldiers are more effective if they're able to find a balance between work and play," a military official is being quoted by the PLA Daily.