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Australia
AsiaAustralasia

Australia investigates pilots for helping train China’s military, launches review into protecting state secrets

  • Authorities knew of ‘a number of cases’ of Australians being approached to train the Chinese military, Australia’s defence minister said on Wednesday
  • New Zealand said it was also considering implementing laws to stop former military pilots from travelling overseas to train foreign troops

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Members of the Australian Air Force pictured in Darwin in 2018. A number of Australians were reportedly among the Western military pilots who have been approached to help train China’s military. Photo: Reuters
Reutersin Sydney
Australia will launch a review into the obligations former Defence Force personnel have to protect state secrets, following reports that Australians were among the Western military pilots who had been approached to help train the Chinese military.
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Defence Minister Richard Marles said on Wednesday the intelligence agencies and Australian Federal Police were “investigating a number of cases” in Australia, and announced a review into the policies and procedures governing Australian Defence Force personnel.

“For those who do come into possession of our nation’s secrets either through service in the Australian Defence Force or service in any other part of the Commonwealth, there is an enduring obligation to maintain those secrets,” he told a media conference.

Australia’s Defence Minister Richard Marles said police were ‘investigating a number of cases’ of pilots being approached to help train China’s military. Photo: AP
Australia’s Defence Minister Richard Marles said police were ‘investigating a number of cases’ of pilots being approached to help train China’s military. Photo: AP

“It’s important that we have the most robust framework possible that is in place to protect Australia’s information and protect our secrets.”

Britain has said it would change its national security laws to stop former military pilots being recruited by third-party agencies to work in China, after reports up to 30 pilots had trained the Chinese military.

British media reports have focused on the Test Flying Academy of South Africa, which responded in a statement on its website saying it “strongly believes that its actions, and those of its employees, do not contravene any UK laws”.

New Zealand’s defence minister has also requested advice from the NZ Defence Force on whether it needs to implement laws to stop former New Zealand military pilots travelling overseas to train pilots of foreign militaries, a spokeswoman from the prime minister’s office said.
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