War hawks? How China secretly recruits Western pilots for military training

Military aviation has been a mainstay of any armed forces for the past century or so. However, sometimes major superpowers will go to extreme lengths and then some to make sure their military is up-to-date.

Reuters writes that intelligence agencies from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States have warned about China “aggressively” recruiting Western pilots.

Beijing would be seeking the expertise and experience of Western pilots and other personnel to serve as trainers of the Chinese military.

“Western recruits who train the PLA (People's Liberation Army) may increase the risk of future conflict by reducing our deterrence capabilities,” said a public bulletin issued by the five intelligence services and quoted by Reuters.

Business Insider writes that the People’s Liberation Army would target to recruit Western pilots, flight engineers, and technical experts knowledgeable about military tactics, techniques, and procedures.

The Chinese military could be using several covert operations to recruit Western experts, including through direct contact, online networking sites, and using private companies located in China and elsewhere as mediators.

The military news website military.com writes that companies located in South Africa has been a favorite tactic of the Chinese military to recruit Western personnel without raising suspicion.

According to CNN, Beijing has been struggling for years to counter Western levels of pilot proficiency and technical capabilities.

Western personnel working for the Chinese military would not only train future pilots on air combat, but also offer a first-hand perspective on tactics used by the United States and its allies, CNN highlights.

This is a top priority for Beijing, if mainland China is preparing for a possible military takeover of the island of Taiwan.

The 2024 election of pro-independence sympathizer William Lai as president of Taiwan has raised the alarm in Beijing, the BBC points out.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has declared many times that having Beijing regain the control of Taiwan, which is considered a rebel province by his government, is one of his priorities, but will he be able to deliver?

And more importantly, what are the ramifications of a war between the world’s largest economy and a reliable western ally, which also happens to be one of the most important technological hubs around the globe?

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