As Clive Hamilton’s Silent Invasion warns, China has and is systematically insinuating its network of spying and influence at all levels of Australian society. At the risk of sounding like a McCarthyite Cold Warrior, the communist giant’s tentacles reach from local government, and community associations, to the highest levels of politics and business.
China is also aiming to subvert law enforcement, establishing secret “police service stations” around the world, including Australia.
Australia is also getting caught up in the dragnet of China’s clandestine efforts to exploit Western military expertise.
A second Australian-based former military fighter pilot is being investigated for his involvement in the alleged training of Chinese fighter pilots, but he claims “the whole thing is intensely political” after his home was raided by police.
Keith Hartley, who lives in South Australia, is being investigated by authorities for his role as chief operating officer of controversial South African company Test Flying Academy of South Africa (TFASA), which is at the centre of a “threat alert” warning issued by the British Ministry of Defence earlier this year
“Intensely political”? Or intensely greedy? Generous Chinese cash has previously ensnared senators, scientists and big business.
It is alleged TFASA was a proxy for the Chinese military to enlist veteran Western fighter pilots to assist the Chinese military to improve capabilities in which they fall behind Western counterparts.
It has previously been reported TFASA was named in an intelligence briefing for recruiting British, Australian, Canadian and New Zealand fighter pilots to work for China, with those enlisted offered eye-watering wages of almost $500,000 AUD, plus other benefits including relocation expenses, accommodation and school fees.
The latest investigation comes as the US seeks the extradition of a friend of Hartley’s, a former US marine pilot based in Australia. Daniel Duggan is wanted by the US on charges relating to the training of Chinese pilots.
The US District of Columbia Court indictment against Mr Duggan was unsealed last week, revealing the former American citizen was facing four US charges, including conspiracy to unlawfully export defence services to China, conspiracy to launder money, and two counts of violating the arms export control act and international traffic in arms regulations.
The allegations against Mr Duggan include that he helped train Chinese pilots to land on aircraft carriers.
The Australian
A review by the Wall Street Journal of several pilots approached by China found that at least four were experienced with flying the US’ most advanced stealth fighter, the F-35. The F-35 is a direct competitor to the Chinese J-20.
Other pilots who were approached, according to internal emails at the South African school, had knowledge of sensitive projects including the development of new planes, sensors and advanced weaponry.
It couldn’t be determined how much expertise China actually gained. Trainers hired by the Test Flying Academy of South Africa were sent to China for several months each year over the past few years, and the school received over $12 million in payments, according to emails from its managers and a person familiar with the program.
The Australian
One reason China is so keen to pilfer Western expertise is that, for all its boasting, its military is deficient in key areas. Especially lack of combat experience, and especially carrier-based skills. China has two carriers currently in service, built from Soviet-era hulls. Both lack aircraft-launching catapults, relying instead on “ski-jump” ramps that limit the payloads — meaning armaments — aircraft can carry. Only the newest Chinese carrier, the Fujian, currently undergoing sea trials, has a catapult system.
So, China desperately needs carrier-launch instructors. Especially when, as even TFASA grumbled in internal emails, their Chinese students were often “seriously underqualified and underprepared”.
Interestingly, TFASA recently removed a section of its website promoting courses in “advanced fighter tactics,” “fighter weapons instruction” and “electronic warfare and tactics.”
