The intelligence communities of the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom have issued a joint bulletin warning that China is actively recruiting current and former Western military officials to enhance its military capabilities.
The bulletin states that the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) is using private companies in South Africa and China as avenues to recruit former fighter pilots from Western nations. The PLA aims to gain insight into Western air tactics and procedures while improving its own military air operations. The bulletin emphasizes that this recruitment effort poses a threat to the safety of the targeted recruits, their fellow service members, and the security of the US and its allies.
The five major English-speaking countries, known as the "Five Eyes" alliance, have come together to issue this joint bulletin. The alliance, comprising the US, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the UK, shares intelligence resources for their mutual interests. The bulletin aims to raise awareness about the persistent threat posed by China's recruitment efforts and discourage current and former Western military officials from engaging in actions that jeopardize national security.
Reports emerged in October 2022 that the UK's Ministry of Defense suspected China of attempting to recruit around 30 of its former jet and helicopter pilots. The US also suspected a retired Marine, Daniel Duggan, of training Chinese military pilots and is seeking his extradition from Australia for prosecution. In June 2023, the US Department of Commerce sanctioned several companies for providing training to Chinese military pilots using Western and NATO sources. In September 2023, the then-Air Force Chief of Staff issued a memo warning US Airmen about Chinese recruiting efforts. In February, US Air Forces Europe-Air Forces Africa called a conference to address continued Chinese recruitment of US and NATO-trained former pilots.
The new joint bulletin serves as a further warning about China's evolving recruitment efforts. It highlights that targets may be approached directly by acquaintances from the military or through headhunting emails, as well as indirectly through professional networking sites and online job platforms. The bulletin also cautions that job offers may come from privately owned companies worldwide that have concealed their ties to the Chinese military.
The bulletin states that the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) is using private companies in South Africa and China as avenues to recruit former fighter pilots from Western nations. The PLA aims to gain insight into Western air tactics and procedures while improving its own military air operations. The bulletin emphasizes that this recruitment effort poses a threat to the safety of the targeted recruits, their fellow service members, and the security of the US and its allies.
The five major English-speaking countries, known as the "Five Eyes" alliance, have come together to issue this joint bulletin. The alliance, comprising the US, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the UK, shares intelligence resources for their mutual interests. The bulletin aims to raise awareness about the persistent threat posed by China's recruitment efforts and discourage current and former Western military officials from engaging in actions that jeopardize national security.
Reports emerged in October 2022 that the UK's Ministry of Defense suspected China of attempting to recruit around 30 of its former jet and helicopter pilots. The US also suspected a retired Marine, Daniel Duggan, of training Chinese military pilots and is seeking his extradition from Australia for prosecution. In June 2023, the US Department of Commerce sanctioned several companies for providing training to Chinese military pilots using Western and NATO sources. In September 2023, the then-Air Force Chief of Staff issued a memo warning US Airmen about Chinese recruiting efforts. In February, US Air Forces Europe-Air Forces Africa called a conference to address continued Chinese recruitment of US and NATO-trained former pilots.
The new joint bulletin serves as a further warning about China's evolving recruitment efforts. It highlights that targets may be approached directly by acquaintances from the military or through headhunting emails, as well as indirectly through professional networking sites and online job platforms. The bulletin also cautions that job offers may come from privately owned companies worldwide that have concealed their ties to the Chinese military.
