Germany Urges China to Cease Poaching Former Air Force Pilots

Germany has formally requested that China ceases its recruitment of former pilots from the German Air Force to train its own air force, expressing apprehensions over the potential disclosure of NATO secrets. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius addressed the issue following a meeting with Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu during a defense and security conference in Singapore.

Pistorius made it clear that he expected the recruitment practice to be immediately discontinued and highlighted the reciprocity of the situation by suggesting that China would not appreciate a similar approach from Germany. While Li did not explicitly deny the recruitment, he downplayed its significance during discussions, as per a ministry readout of the press briefing.

German media outlets, including Der Spiegel and ZDF, reported on Friday that a number of former Luftwaffe pilots had been employed by China in recent years to train their own pilots. These pilots, who previously flew Eurofighter fighter jets and participated in NATO exercises, reportedly received their salaries through shell companies based in the Seychelles.

The matter has raised deep concerns within the German parliamentary committee responsible for overseeing the country’s secret services. The committee’s head expressed worries that former military personnel, who had previously served the German state, might be involved in positions that could potentially compromise state secrets. The revelations have prompted the German defense ministry to announce plans for an inquiry into the matter.

Similar instances of former military personnel recruitment have been reported in the United Kingdom and the United States in recent years. These developments occur against the backdrop of heightened tensions between China and Taiwan. China continues to assert its claim over the self-governing democratic island, vowing to reunite with Taiwan, even through force if necessary. Since 2016, Beijing has escalated its air and sea incursions around the island, further exacerbating the regional situation.