Fresh Warnings Issued by US and 5 Eyes Partners Regarding China’s Recruitment of Former Western Military Pilots
FVEY and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) members have previously expressed concerns about Chinese attempts to recruit their former military pilots.
The intelligence communities of the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom released a joint bulletin warning that China is actively seeking to recruit current and former Western military officials to enhance its military capabilities.
The joint bulletin reveals that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is utilizing private companies in South Africa and China as recruitment channels for former Western military officials, especially former fighter pilots, to train PLA Air Force and Navy aviators. The bulletin highlights that this recruitment effort has targeted former fighter pilots from Canada, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States, and other Western nations.
According to the bulletin, the PLA is seeking the skills and expertise of these individuals to enhance its own military air operations while gaining knowledge of Western air tactics, techniques, and procedures. The bulletin emphasizes that the insight obtained by the PLA from Western military talent poses a threat to the safety of the targeted recruits, their fellow service members, and the security of the U.S. and its allies.
The United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom make up the five major English-speaking countries globally. Together, these countries form a mutual intelligence alliance known as “Five Eyes” or FVEY, which collaborates on intelligence activities for their shared interests.
Director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC) for the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Michael C. Casey, emphasized that the joint bulletin from FVEY partners aims to raise awareness of this ongoing threat and discourage current or former Western service members from engaging in actions that jeopardize the safety of their military colleagues and national security.
Allies Remain Vigilant About PLA Recruitment
Reports emerged in October 2022 indicating that the UK’s Ministry of Defense suspected China of trying to recruit approximately 30 of its former jet and helicopter pilots. Subsequently, there were allegations that retired U.S. Marine Daniel Duggan, a former pilot of the AV-8 Harrier vertical/short take-off and landing (V/STOL) ground-attack jet, was involved in training Chinese military pilots. The U.S. government is currently seeking Mr. Duggan’s extradition from Australia to face charges in the U.S.
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In June 2023, the U.S. Department of Commerce sanctioned several companies, including Frontier Services Group Ltd. and Test Flying Academy of South Africa (TFASA), for providing training to Chinese military pilots using Western and NATO sources.
In September 2023, then-Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. issued a memo cautioning U.S. Airmen about Chinese recruitment efforts.
February also saw U.S. Air Forces Europe-Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA) conducting a conference in Ramstein, Germany, to address continued efforts by China to recruit former U.S. and NATO-trained pilots.
The latest FVEY joint bulletin serves as a reminder of the persistent threat posed by Chinese recruitment efforts.
The bulletin stresses that this threat is constantly evolving in response to warnings issued by Western governments to their military personnel and the public, underscoring the need to remain vigilant against this ongoing and adaptive threat.
The bulletin points out that recruitment tactics may not always be obvious, with targets being approached through personal connections, headhunting emails, professional networking platforms, online job sites, or through privately owned companies worldwide with hidden ties to the Chinese military.
Cautionary Words for Veterans in Bulletin
The bulletin warns former Western military pilots that they could face legal consequences if they decide to work with programs affiliated with the PLA.
Referencing Mr. Duggan’s case, the bulletin mentions, “In 2022, a former U.S. Marine pilot working with TFASA was arrested in Australia following a U.S. indictment for violating the U.S. Arms Export Control Act.”
In addition to legal risks, the bulletin cautions former pilots that aiding the PLA in training its pilots could escalate the risk of future conflicts by diminishing deterrence capabilities and potentially putting former colleagues at increased risk in such scenarios.
The bulletin advises former military officials to exercise caution when sharing information online about their security clearances and military expertise, stay informed about foreign recruitment efforts through military, intelligence, and law enforcement channels, and conduct due diligence before responding to communications from unknown parties.
Furthermore, the bulletin offers guidance on how current and former service members can report suspicious recruitment attempts to the appropriate authorities within their military branches and countries.
