Australia officially approves extradition of former Marine who conducted training for Chinese pilots to the United States
According to former US Marine and naturalized Australian Daniel Duggan, he believed he had the opportunity to become a spy.
Australia is set to deport a U.S.-born Australian citizen to America amid accusations of illegally providing military training to Chinese pilots.
Daniel Duggan, currently in a New South Wales prison, was arrested in October 2022 for allegedly violating U.S. arms-trafficking laws by training Chinese pilots in South Africa from 2010-12.
His arrest came shortly after returning from working in China for six years.
The former U.S. Marine claims he was unaware that his actions were illegal and believed that both the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) and the U.S. Naval Central Intelligence Service were aware of his activities.
In a letter from prison dated May, Duggan mentioned that ASIO agents had discussed meeting with Beijing generals and intelligence matters with him in 2012, leading him to believe he could be recruited as a spy.
ASIO has not commented as the investigation is ongoing.
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Saffrine, Duggan’s wife, mentioned in an online statement as part of a petition for his release in 2022 that her husband, a father of six, was a skilled pilot and proud Australian.
She stated, “Daniel has been entangled in a geopolitical turmoil for working in China, performing tasks that have been carried out there by Western, African, and European pilots for decades with the knowledge of these governments.”
The basis of Duggan’s arrest stems from a 2017 U.S. grand jury indictment alleging that his training of Beijing pilots breached a U.S. arms embargo.
Saffine argued that his indictment was politically motivated and was a result of the U.S. “China Initiative” aiming to combat espionage on American soil.
She added, “This initiative has faced criticism from various members of the U.S. Congress, academia, civil rights organizations, and Asian American communities as racially profiling and inherently discriminatory.”
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus confirmed Duggan’s extradition on Dec. 23, stating, “Mr. Duggan had the opportunity to present reasons why he should not be extradited to the U.S.”
“After reviewing all available information, I made my decision,” Dreyfus added.
In his defense, Duggan submitted an 89-page document contesting his extradition and is facing a potential prison sentence of up to 60 years.
Duggan’s lawyer, Bernard Collaery, urged the Australian Government to ensure that no sudden actions are taken.
He said, “Perhaps Australia’s Ambassador to the United States Mr. Kevin Rudd could convey the same message to the Trump Administration.”
“Now is the time for family,” he concluded.
