China makes such a dent that the ground slipped underneath Britain’s feet!
On Tuesday, a UK official has said that China has recruited more than 30 British fighterjet pilots and helicopter pilots in its fleet. All of them have been recruited to train Chinese military pilots. All of them have been recruited at an annual salary of around £240,000 (over 22 million Indian rupees), the official said. At present, all these pilots are in the training camp of the People’s Liberation Army.
According to Britain’s news channel Sky News, a retired senior officer of Britain’s Royal Air Force has described it as dangerous. At the same time, another official has revealed that China has recruited dozens of former British military pilots to teach the Chinese army how to defeat Western fighter planes and helicopters. Officials said that about 30 fighter jet pilots and some helicopter pilots are currently in the training camp of the People’s Liberation Army of China.
NEW: A defence minister says the UK has approached all former pilots who've been recruited to train China's armed forces to warn them against continuing such work. @JSHeappey tells @KayBurley the law will be changing to make it illegal to ignore such warnings in future
1/— Deborah Haynes (@haynesdeborah) October 18, 2022
The Armed Force Minister – responding to the mind-blowing news that some 30 ex-fast jet & helicopter pilots are currently training Chinese counterparts in China in return for large salaries – urged personnel to check with @DefenceHQ before agreeing to train foreign militaries
2/— Deborah Haynes (@haynesdeborah) October 18, 2022
The minister @JSHeappey also revealed it has been a concern in defence for "a number of years" – which begs the question why something has not been done faster to stop former @RoyalAirForce @RoyalNavy & @BritishArmy pilots from heading to China to train the Chinese…
3/— Deborah Haynes (@haynesdeborah) October 18, 2022
Here is what the defence minister told @KayBurley:
"It has been a concern within the MOD for a number of years. Our counter-intelligence people have been looking at it closely."
4/— Deborah Haynes (@haynesdeborah) October 18, 2022
. @JSHeappey said: "We have approached the people that are involved and been clear with them that it is our expectation that they would not continue to be part of that organisation…
5/— Deborah Haynes (@haynesdeborah) October 18, 2022
"…and we are gong to put into law that once people have been given that warning it would become an offence to then go forward and continue with that training."
6/— Deborah Haynes (@haynesdeborah) October 18, 2022
He continued: "China is a competitor that is threating the UK interest in many places around the world. It is also an important trading partner but there is no secret in their attempt to gain access to our secrets…
7/— Deborah Haynes (@haynesdeborah) October 18, 2022
"… and the 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."
8/— Deborah Haynes (@haynesdeborah) October 18, 2022
Asked by @KayBurley: "Don't be a traitor. Come home before you can't & we put you in jail?"
The minister replied: "Yeah, Don’t go & train foreign air forces without checking with the MOD whether they are a foreign air force we want to see you train would be a good rule"
9/9— Deborah Haynes (@haynesdeborah) October 18, 2022
UK officials said that China has also tried to recruit former pilots who have taken training in the US-led fifth generation fighter aircraft F-35 . An F-35 fighter jet is worth over £100 million. This aircraft is jointly developed by the United States and Britain.
In contact with military experts from other Western countries,
the UK official said that China is looking to recruit many more serving and retired former military pilots and experts from the RAF, the Royal Navy and the British Army, as well as military personnel from many other Western countries. is trying. He said that for this, China is offering an annual salary of about £ 240,000.
Alert issued by the UK Ministry of Defense
The intelligence agency of the UK Ministry of Defense has issued an alert on Tuesday to warn serving and former military personnel against such steps. Officials said that we are concerned about China’s recruitment plan. This is a threat to the interests of Britain and the West.
What Britain said
British officials said that under this recruitment scheme, with the help of experienced pilots, China wants to be aware of the capabilities of British and NATO country’s fighter jets such as Typhoon, Tornado and Harrier jump jets. With the help of these pilots, he will give training to his pilot on how to compete with such fighter jets. The official said that with the help of these pilots, China is taking help in developing the strategy and capabilities of the Air Force.
DISCLAIMER: The author is solely responsible for the views expressed in this article. The author carries the responsibility for citing and/or licensing of images utilized within the text.
