The Navy was very quick to sink Capt. Brett Crozier’s career for an apparent command performance failure. Unfortunately, it won’t apply that same standard to those shaping the Navy’s strategy to deal with China.

On Thursday, Crozier was relieved of command of the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier, whose severe coronavirus outbreak had led Crozier to return to port. But the Navy says it lost faith in Crozier’s command because, rather than communicate with his direct commanding officers via a classified system, Crozier used public email to raise concerns with dozens of officials, and his missive was leaked to the press.