UK Working To Stop China From Recruiting Its Ex-Air Force Pilots

On Tuesday, the UK government announced significant measures to counteract a Chinese recruitment effort aimed at enticing former and current British air force pilots to train military personnel in China. While collaborative training exercises with foreign armies are common for British military personnel, the prospect of former pilots collaborating with China, labeled the “number one threat” to domestic and global security by London, raises serious concerns.

A spokesperson for the British defence ministry stated, “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.” Armed forces minister James Heappey acknowledged that such collaboration has been a longstanding concern within the ministry of defence, with counter-intelligence closely monitoring the situation.

Heappey emphasized that officials have been advising pilots involved to cease their participation, and legislation is being considered to make it an offense to continue such training after receiving warnings. Reports suggest that over 30 former pilots have accepted offers exceeding £240,000, with many recruits in their 50s who have recently left the British air force.

The recruitment practice, ongoing since 2019, has reportedly intensified in recent times. The UK’s defence ministry is reviewing the use of confidentiality contracts and non-disclosure agreements, emphasizing that all serving and former personnel are bound by the Official Secrets Act, prohibiting the sharing of state secrets with foreign powers.

The spokesperson added that the new National Security Bill aims to provide additional tools to address contemporary security challenges, including this recruitment issue. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin denied any knowledge of the employment of British pilots by China.

Tensions between London and Beijing have escalated due to China’s actions in Hong Kong, disputes over Huawei’s role in the UK’s 5G network, and concerns about human rights and influence. The director of Britain’s GCHQ spy agency, Jeremy Fleming, recently warned about China’s growing technological dominance as an urgent problem for Western countries, urging action to defend their values and influence.