China headhunting Aussie military pilots triggers urgent inv

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China headhunting Aussie military pilots triggers urgent investigation
By Richard Wood • Senior Journalist
10:21am Oct 19, 2022

The Defence Department is investigating reports China has been luring former Royal Australian Air Force pilots with lucrative payments to pass on their experience to the Chinese military.
Defence Minister Richard Marles said today he was "deeply shocked" by the reports.

"I would be deeply shocked and disturbed to hear that there were personnel who were being lured by a pay check from a foreign state above serving their own country.
"I have asked the department to investigate these claims and come back to my office with clear advice on this matter."
Today's announcement followed confirmation by the UK government that up to 30 former British military pilots had been recruited by the Chinese Liberation Army Air Force for training purposes.

China is using third parties to find British and other western pilots to directly train Chinese pilots, as well support state-owned defence industry companies and research institutions, the MoD said.
"We are taking decisive steps to stop Chinese recruitment schemes attempting to headhunt serving and former UK Armed Forces pilots to train People's Liberation Army personnel in the People's Republic of China," an MoD spokesperson said.
The MoD said there was no evidence to suggest that any former UK pilots have passed on any information which would violate the Official Secrets Act.
Britain's Minister of State for the Armed Forces James Heappey said the government is currently looking to change the law to punish military pilots who pass on their expertise to the Chinese army.
- Reported with CNN

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