Destroyers are yesterday's technology. Vulnerable to both submarines and aircrafts, there has not been one war in the last fifty years in which they played even a minor role. It is extremely hard to handle, something which may have been a factor in the incident. It is obvious that they are pathetic. The only Chinese military threat comes from their 700 nuclear warheads, about two dozen of which are actually capable of reaching Los Angeles.
None can go further.
The Chinese know full well that any attempt to use these weapons would result in utter devastation. Occasionally the American war party does acknowledge that China poses no threat to the United States. While not abandoning their primary argument, they claim instead that America must defend its friends in the Far East Japan, South Korea, and especially Taiwan. This argument is equally specious. It is doubtful that the US would come to the aid of Taiwan if it were actually attacked.