Britain steps up efforts to stop pilots helping Chinese military
- The Ministry of Defence in London says some former service personnel are being offered up to US$270,000 to pass on skills and knowledge to the PLA
- UK says it will take ‘decisive steps’ and tighten its existing laws to stop current and former pilots helping the Chinese military
According to British media reports, up to 30 former military pilots have been lured with a package as high as US$270,000 to provide training to the People’s Liberation Army.
“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,” a British Ministry of Defence spokesman said.
The ministry also issued a “threat alert” to warn all serving and former pilots against taking up the offer.
It is also reviewing the use of confidentiality contracts and non-disclosure agreements. It said all British military personnel were subjected to secrecy laws, but no current laws had been broken.
When asked about the reports, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said in Beijing: “I am not aware of the circumstances you mentioned.”
An official told Sky News that China was using a third-party company called Test Flying Academy of South Africa to recruit former British service personnel.