China’s Efforts to Train Fighter Pilots with Western Expertise Raises Concerns
For years, U.S. officials have accused China of stealing American technology to design and build fighter planes. However, while China has made strides in building advanced fighters, its pilots have struggled to fly them effectively. That may be changing, according to American officials who warn that Beijing is intensifying efforts to entice former fighter pilots from Western nations to train Chinese pilots.
The United States, along with Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, known as the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing partnership, issued a bulletin on Wednesday highlighting China’s campaign to tap into the skills and expertise of Western military talent to improve its air operations. Michael C. Casey, the director of the U.S. National Counterintelligence and Security Center, stated that China’s People’s Liberation Army has been aggressively recruiting Western military talent through private firms around the globe, offering exorbitant salaries to train their aviators.
China’s efforts to enhance its air and naval forces have raised concerns among Western officials, particularly as Beijing has hinted at using force to unite with Taiwan. American officials, speaking anonymously, acknowledge that Chinese fighter pilots are showing improvement, but debate the extent to which foreign pilot training versus increased domestic training hours are contributing to this progress.
China’s recruitment of foreign pilots has been ongoing for years but has recently intensified, with the establishment of training centers in various countries, including South Africa, Kenya, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. While the recruited pilots may initially be unaware that they are training the Chinese military, it becomes apparent as they are offered the opportunity to fly advanced planes and paid handsomely for their services.
The involvement of allied pilots in training the Chinese military has raised legal concerns, as teaching advanced warfighting skills to foreign nationals without U.S. government permission is prohibited under the Arms Export Control Act. The case of former Marine pilot Daniel Duggan, who has been indicted on charges of training Chinese pilots and is currently fighting extradition to the United States, exemplifies the legal consequences of such actions.
Intelligence officials have issued warnings to deter current or former service members from engaging in training activities that could jeopardize national security. China’s efforts to learn American and allied air tactics, as well as increase surveillance of military exercises using drones and other technology, have raised concerns about potential security risks posed by the transfer of Western expertise to Chinese military operations.
As tensions between the U.S. and China continue to escalate, the issue of foreign pilot training and technology transfer remains a critical concern for national security and military defense strategies.
