CHINA: VANDALS FACE DEATH PENALTY FOR DAMAGING MILITARY FACILITIES

vandals who deliberately damage China's military telecommunication facilities will face long jail terms or even the death penalty, according to a judicial deliberation released by the Supreme People's Court (SPC). "Most of the damage to military telecommunication facilities in China is caused by illegal construction.” The court stipulated that vandalism that hinders "important military communications", affects operations or inflicts losses on the army, causing the deaths of more than three people, injuring more than ten and losses exceeding one million yuan (128,200 U.S. dollars), could incur at least ten years in jail or even the death penalty. Actions that cause communication difficulties while troops conduct disaster-relief or military maneuvers, or deal with emergencies, with "extremely serious" results, could incur the same penalties.