"The use of watches that have internet access, location information, and telephone conversation functions should be considered a violation of secrecy regulations at army barracks," the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Daily said.
The newspaper, which is the official mouthpiece of China's military, also warned against smartphones and high-tech spectacles.
"When officers and men put on these type of spectacles, it is extremely possible that army positions can be tracked, endangering the security of military operations," the report added.
The man came out in a "cold sweat" after he realised how many functions the watch had, the report said, adding that security personnel confiscated it and analysed the data.
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The report did not say whether the watch - a birthday present - was a recently released Apple smartwatch, and did not specifically name Google Glass when referring to spectacles.
China operates a vast security and surveillance apparatus, with the ruling Communist Party maintaining a resolute grip on power, while Washington and Beijing frequently trade accusations of state-sponsored cyber-spying.
The measures, announced earlier this year, are purely internal and "a requirement for the Chinese government to prevent and combat terrorism", it said.