Young soldiers in the Chinese navy have been warned that becoming addicted to online gambling is as bad as being “possessed by demons”.

The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLA Navy) also warned its young soldiers to be wary of the risks of online dating, which could make them an “extremely easy” target for criminals.

“Distinguish carefully and keep some distance when making friends online [and] never lose sight of your principles and make random friends with netizens,” the soldiers were warned in an article published on the PLA Navy’s official WeChat.

It comes as Beijing fears that its young soldiers, who make up a growing number of its army’s personnel, are becoming heavily influenced by the internet.

To raise awareness around the issue among young soldiers, a naval aviation unit created comics detailing “online traps” the soldiers could fall into, which include gambling.

In these comics, the soldiers are warned they could be “tricked” and end up “falling into an endless abyss” of debt.