MOD warns British ex-military pilots over Chinese army training schemes

The Ministry of Defence has warned of recruitment schemes headhunting former British military pilots to train members of the Chinese army.

The BBC reports up to 30 former pilots are believed to have trained the China's People's Liberation Army. The pilots are reported to have served across the British military and not just in the Royal Air Force. The Ministry of Defence has issued an intelligence alert warning pilots against taking part.

Armed forces minister James Heappey said the Government will seek to change the law to punish military pilots who train the Chinese army despite intelligence warnings.

He told Sky News:

"We've approached the people involved and have been clear of them that it’s our expectation they would not continue to be part of that organisation.
"We are going to put into law that once people have been given that warning it will become an offence to go forward and continue with that training. "China is a competitor that is threatening the UK interest in many places around the world. "It is also an important training partner but there is no secret in their attempt to gain access to our secrets, and their recruitment of our pilots in order to understand the capabilities of our air force is clearly a concern to us and the intelligence part of the MOD."

Attempts to headhunt pilots are ongoing and had been ramping up recently, western officials say.
A spokesperson from the Ministry of Defence said the training ​and the recruiting of pilots does not breach any current UK law but officials in the UK and other countries are trying to deter the activity.

"It is a lucrative package that is being offered to people," said one western official. "Money is a strong motivator." Some of the packages are thought to be as much as £237,911 ($270,000).

The retired British pilots are being used to help understand the way in which Western planes and pilots operate, information which could be vital in the event of any conflict, such as over Taiwan.
"They are a very attractive body of people to then pass on that knowledge," a Western official said. "It's taking Western pilots of great experience to help develop Chinese military air force tactics and capabilities."

"We've seen it ramp up significantly," a western official said in a briefing to journalists. "It is an ongoing issue." Current serving personnel are being targeted but none are thought to have accepted. The pilots have experience on fast jets and helicopters and come from across the military and not just the Royal Air Force. They have flown Typhoons, Jaguars, Harriers and Tornados.F-35 pilots are not thought to be involved although China is thought to be interested in them. Some of the pilots are in their late 50s and left the military some time ago. Pilots of other allied nations have also been targeted. Officials said they are being recruited through intermediary head-hunters and cited a particular flying academy based in South Africa as being involved.

There is no evidence that any pilots have broken the Official Secrets Act or that they have committed any crime. The aim of the alert is to try and deter activity and inform current staff and industry partners and also remind personnel of their obligations to protect sensitive information.