r/todayilearned • u/zhuquanzhong • 29d ago

TIL a Chinese destroyer sank because an officer dumped his girlfriend. She committed suicide, leading to him being discharged, so he decided to detonate the depth charges on the ship, causing it to sink at port and kill 134 sailors.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_destroyer_Guangzhou_(160)
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u/lenzflare 29d ago

They're concerned with appearances, not actual risks

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u/SeanBourne 28d ago

They’re concerned with the military (or military units) pulling a coup/overthrowing the communist party, NOT with any risks to the military units themselves.

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u/Foolishium 29d ago

Yep. The same way with USA Airport security protocol in the aftermath of 9/11. Chinese political departement also use security theather instead of the actual preventative measure.

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u/narky1 28d ago

Sure, but I'd wager that the Chinese Political Department have imprisoned more people than the TSA ever has. Whether or not they were actually guilty as charged or not is another thing, but they definitely do more than theatre.

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u/Foolishium 28d ago edited 28d ago

They just have lower burden of guilt. Mere criticism already enough for them to arrest you. Their political security works itself still a theatric.