The People's Liberation Army's official newpaper has published a rare article urging officers to heed suggestions and complaints from rank-and-file soldiers.
The article in Sunday's PLA Daily said soldiers were becoming more serious about officers' breach of army rules, including those on the use of the internet and mobile phones.
And increasingly, soldiers are filing complaints if they see such violations. Unlike in the past, young soldiers now tend to speak out if they learn their superiors have done something inappropriate, according to the article.
The change is 'an inevitable result of social development and of improvement in people's cultural qualities and awareness about democracy', the article said.
The most recent cases that have aroused soldiers' indignation include some officers surfing the internet, in violation of a recent ban, as they have separate offices or dormitories.
Some solders have filed complaints and urged officers to be strict with themselves while also being strict with others.