Pop goes the Chinese military

Beijing: A growing number of Chinese soldiers-cum-singers has been going from troops to troupes, with salutes from the charts, China Daily said Thursday. Military singers have been marching to the top in the pop charts, earning salutes from fans in an arena otherwise dominated by bubblegum bards from Taiwan and Hong Kong, the daily said. "Since the mid-2000s, most have gotten their breaks on TV talent shows, on which they perform folksy and patriotic anthems," it said. IANS