China ‘aggressively’ trying to lure West’s military trainers: Five Eyes

Five Eyes intelligence partners said Beijing is using private companies in South Africa and China to target potential recruits in western countries with 'exorbitant salaries.'

China is “aggressively” pursuing its program to recruit current and former western military personnel to train the People’s Liberation Army, a joint advisory from Five Eyes countries warned Wednesday.

A statement from the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) on behalf of the Five Eyes intelligence partnership said Beijing is using private companies in South Africa and China to target potential recruits from NATO and western countries by offering “exorbitant salaries.”

“The most sought-after targets to date have been military pilots” and other air force personnel, according to the Five Eyes bulletin issued by the ODNI’s National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC) — something targeted countries have been warning about for years and introduced measures to try and counter.

But the bulletin says China has responded to those warnings by adapting its tactics and expanding its targets to include “technical experts with insight into Western military tactics, techniques, and procedures.”

“The insight the PLA gains from Western military talent threatens the safety of the targeted recruits, their fellow service members, and U.S. and allied security,” the bulletin states.

Asked about the bulletin and what the U.S. military is doing to deter servicemembers from accepting Chinese recruitment offers, Pentagon deputy spokesperson Sabrina Singh said the issue is being taken seriously.

“I think also loyalty to your country is certainly (something) we always impart on our servicemembers,” she said with a laugh.

The warning from Five Eyes countries — Canada, the U.S., the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand — says China has also sought to hire former pilots from Germany, France and other western nations.