Defence Department launches investigation into claims Beijing is headhunting Australian war pilots

The Defence Department has launched an urgent investigation into claims Beijing is actively headhunting Australian and British war pilots to train Chinese armed forces.

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

The Defence Department has launched an urgent investigation into claims Beijing is actively headhunting Australian and British war pilots to train Chinese armed forces.

Defence Minister Richard Marles confirmed the probe late on Tuesday night after the UK government revealed it had launched efforts to block Chinese “recruitment schemes” targeting serving and former British pilots.

Following reports in British media that a number of Australian pilots had also been recruited on contracts worth 250,000GBP (A$448,000) per year, Mr Marles urgently began the investigation in Canberra.

“When our ADF personnel sign up to the Defence Force, they do so to serve their country and we are deeply grateful of that,” he told The Advertiser.

“I would be deeply shocked and disturbed to hear that there were personnel who were being lured by a paycheck from a foreign state above serving their own country.

“I have asked the Department to investigate these claims and come back to my office with clear advice on this matter.”

The UK Ministry of Defence on Tuesday morning local time was preparing to issue a rare “threat alert”, warning that China was luring fighter pilots.

“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 Ministry of Defence spokesperson said in a statement.

It’s believed about 30 former pilots have taken advantage of the offers to teach Western flying tactics.

The People's Liberation Army band performs during the opening session of the 20th Chinese Communist Party's Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on October 16, 2022. (Photo by Noel CELIS / AFP)

UK Armed forces minister James Heappey said such recruitment schemes had been a concern for a “number of years”.

“China is a competitor that is threatening the UK interest in many places around the world. It’s also an important trading partner,” he told UK’s Sky News.

“But there is no secret in their attempt to gain access to our secrets and the recruitment of pilots in order to understand the capabilities of our air force is clearly a concern to us.”

Mr Heappey said those involved in the training had been urged to stop, although there are no British laws preventing it.

“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,” he said.