No lad, morale comes form good fealing and that is mostly dependant of good and healtyness of your enviroment. many things affect to this, one biggest single factor is the working supply sector (food, heathcare and other related.
Don't take poppys word as he is western but as he actually has been onboard warships. People are deep down very same in whole over the world, it doesen't matter which colour you prepesent or are. Chinese sailors feels hungry and gets sick as rest of us mortals and their morale is build on the same pieces as other everyday soldiers.
I've never been onboard warships, but I've been a soldier and no matter how patriotic and devoted to fullfill my responsibilities, I can assure you that when you are vet, cold, hungry and just generally pissed about the conditions your morale is as down as is your mood.
Funny that you mentioned brainwash, but its not that westernes thinks your mentioned mehtods as a brainwash, they or at least they who have actually been in the situation knows that the brainwashed are those who belive in such statements that you made....
....Don't make fools out of yourself....
I would agree with you that Brainwash isn't really the right word to use. However, since i am not a native English speaker, I have not better word in my vocabulary to describe it. Talking to many of my friends in both US (which I lived in for 2 years) and Canada (going on to my 8th years now) You will be surprised how much this word would come up during conversations. To Military professionals like you and Poppey, my word might seem foolish, but amongst the general public, this is how many people perscive the PLA.
I have been on to some early PLA warships and the impression that I got is the living condition is no better than the WWII destroyer parked in Boston.
I agree with you that when you are hungry, cold, and wet you are pissed about your conditions. I am sure many soliders in Chinese military will feel the same way. However this is where political education comes in. This is when the officers will hold meetings talking about the great revoluationary traditions. How the Red Army marched Thousands of miles under extremely hostile conditions eathing tree barks and grass roots. How the peasant army with rice and rifles (which are spoils from their enemies) was able to drive off invaders with much better equipment and trainings. How many people scarfice their lives for a better tomorrow. How the conditions we are in now are much better comparing to what we used to have.
Believe it or not it does work. One thing that every solider in China learns is" Firstly not afraid of hardship, Secondly not afraid of death" I am not sure how much of this is taught in Western Militaries. Call it the Coolaid effect, if you hear enough about it and nothing else, you will beleive it.
Anyhow, a bit too much off the topic. I am not sure what living conditions on these new ships are like now. I think it should be much better than before.
....Too bad..I feel sorry for my Chinese sea going brothers. A sailor is a sailor to me no matter what uniform he puts on. Sailors at sea should be; 
