Beijing appears to be ensnaring former British military pilots. For a lot of money, the ex-soldiers are supposed to share their expert knowledge. Recruitment efforts have reportedly increased recently.
According to media reports, former British military pilots are being lured to China with large sums of money in order to pass on their expertise to the Chinese military. As reported by the BBC, among others, up to 30 Britons are said to have already followed Beijing's call. Accordingly, the previous pilots are offered the equivalent of up to 275,000 euros.
"It's a lucrative package that people are being offered," the BBC quoted a Western official as saying. "Money is a powerful motivator." The retired pilots are designed to show how western military aircraft and pilots operate. Information that could be relevant in the event of a conflict, such as over Taiwan. China's air force needs experienced Western pilots to help develop new tactics and capabilities, the official said.
According to the BBC, British security agencies first became aware of the recruitment attempts in 2019. Efforts have increased since the corona pandemic subsided. "We have seen a significant increase," the western official said. "It's an ongoing theme." Active pilots would also be targeted. So far, none of them have responded to an offer. However, Beijing is also interested in pilots from other nations.
China is said to be using headhunters in its recruitment efforts. A flight academy based in South Africa is also involved. A spokesman for the British Ministry of Defense told the BBC that recruiting ex-military pilots is not against the law. Nevertheless, ex-pilots are warned not to work for the Chinese military.
