CHINA-UK: CHINA RECRUITING TRAINED EX-MILITARY PILOTS TO TRAIN CHINESE AIR FORCE PILOTS TO DEFEAT WESTERN WARPLANES AND HELICOPTERS
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SkyNews (October 18) quoting officials disclosed that China has recruited dozens of former
British military pilots to teach the Chinese armed forces how to defeat western warplanes and
helicopters in a "threat to UK interests". One official said some 30 mainly ex-fast jet but also
some helicopter pilots - lured by annual salaries of around £240,000 - are currently in China
training pilots for the People's Liberation Army. It said Beijing is actively trying to hire many
more serving and former military pilots and other specialists from across the RAF, the Royal
Navy and the British Army as well as personnel from other western nations. China is using
third-party head-hunters, including the Test Flying Academy of South Africa, a company based
in South Africa, to target personnel. UK's Ministry of Defence's Defence Intelligence service
on October 18 said the situation is so grave, that it issued a "threat alert" to warn serving and
former military personnel against such approaches.
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