WASHINGTON: The U.S. and other “Five Eyes” countries issued a warning on Wednesday about China circumventing measures aimed at halting its recruitment of current and former Western military pilots and personnel to train the Chinese military. The alliance, which includes the U.S., UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, cautioned that such recruitment could undermine their deterrence capabilities and increase the risk of future conflict.
The public bulletin from the intelligence services highlighted concerns about Chinese government-directed espionage, cyber hacking, and intellectual property theft. It stated that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) uses private companies in South Africa and China to hire former fighter pilots, flight engineers, and air operations personnel from Western countries for training its Air Force and Navy personnel.
The PLA aims to leverage these recruits’ skills and expertise to enhance its military air operations and gain insights into Western tactics, techniques, and procedures. This constitutes a “persistent, adaptive threat” to U.S. and allied security, the notice said.
One notable case involves former U.S. Marine pilot Daniel Duggan, who is fighting extradition from Australia on charges of training Chinese military pilots through a South African flight school. Duggan, a naturalized Australian citizen, faces charges including money laundering and breaking arms control laws, which he denies.
Frequently, the recruitment endeavors entail the use of headhunting emails, personal military contacts, or privately held enterprises concealing connections to the PLA.
The Five Eyes agencies urged individuals to be vigilant against such offers, which often promise lucrative salaries and opportunities to fly exotic aircraft, and to report any attempts to the FBI or military investigators.
The U.S. Commerce Department last year sanctioned over a dozen companies across several countries for their roles in recruiting Western military talent for PLA aviation training. The Test Flying Academy of South Africa, one of the biggest companies involved, has continued its activities despite U.S. sanctions, although it claims to provide only open-source training and operates with the approval of South African government agencies.
The Five Eyes notice underscores the growing concern over China’s efforts to bolster its military capabilities through the recruitment of Western expertise, posing significant security challenges for the alliance and its member countries.
