Germany to Investigate Report of Former Air Force Pilots Training Chinese Army Pilots

Der Spiegel and state broadcaster ZDF reported on Friday that “at least a handful of former German air force officers work as instructors in China and that in many cases they are paid via companies in the Seychelles.”

They also reported that such training has been going on for years, but many pilots did not respond to requests for comment, or could not be reached, while one of them rejected these allegations.

Asked about the report during a visit to Singapore, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said there are clear rules on what military personnel are allowed to do after leaving the armed forces and what activities they should report, and there are also clear rules on confidentiality requirements.

The minister also said that “every individual case must be examined… We will do this thoroughly and all transgressions will be subject to punishment. This is quite clear. However, it is clear that servicemen can get jobs after their service ends, but within the limits of our laws and within the limits of their obligations.”

Training of Chinese pilots haunts London

Defense sources warned last October that RAF pilots would be prosecuted if they were found to have shared “state secrets” while giving flying lessons in China.

British Defense Intelligence issued a warning that former military pilots had been lured with large sums of money to help train Chinese forces.

The Telegraph newspaper at the time quoted a defense source as saying that while teaching aviation was not classified as a state secret, teaching how to fight was classified.

The source explained that the pilots who signed the Official Secrets Law are bound to implement its provisions for life, and will be prosecuted if a violation is verified.

He added that Chinese academies have tried to lure the current and most qualified personnel from the front lines of the British Air Force, to train personnel in flight and combat techniques.