Earlier last month, a media report revealed that the United States government had accused a former Marine pilot of providing military training to the Chinese pilots in exchange for a hefty amount. [1] The unsealed indictment revealed that the payments were made to the accused by an unnamed China-based firm that is responsible for gathering military equipment and technical data for the Chinese military. In other similar incidents, former pilots of the Australian and New Zealand air forces have been approached to provide flight training to the Chinese cadets in exchange for money.[2]

Similarly, in October 2022 Britain’s Ministry of Defence had reported that 30 former military pilots were recruited by the Chinese to help them train cadets from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).[3]

Chinese targeting of former military officials for military espionage is a significant concern for many nations. This type of espionage is believed to be a key component of China's military strategy, and is seen as a way for China to gain access to sensitive military information and technologies that could give it a significant advantage over other nations. One of the reasons for which former military officials are targeted is that they often have access to sensitive information and technologies that are not available to the general public. Additionally, they may have specialised knowledge and skills that would be valuable to PLA.

For example, former military officials who have experience with specific weapons systems or intelligence-gathering techniques have been targeted by China for their expertise. Another reason is that they may have connections to current military officials and other government officials. These connections can be used to gain access to sensitive information and technologies, as well as to influence government policies and decisions. Retired armed forces personnel have been susceptible to such monetary incentives as they may be looking for ways to supplement their retirement income or to secure their financial future. China may use these incentives to lure them into providing sensitive information or to gain their cooperation in other ways.

While these incidents of money trapping of military personnel for the exchange of military knowledge and equipment have been an old Chinese intelligence modus operandi, such incidents have risen in number during post-pandemic. [4] Such exchange often materialises due to lucrative monetary benefits. Transactions are facilitated by offshore firms in fractions with direct linkages to China. [5] Often involved in this money-trapping affair are mid to high-level retired military officers who have been involved in operational roles which require specialised skills and years of training in their respective forces and are currently off the military payroll. These are mostly experienced fighter pilots, skilled infantry soldiers, or soldiers trained in handling sophisticated types of equipment. Trends recently suggest that China is keen on learning tactical-level operational procedures and preparedness of forces around the world. [6] Several accused are charged with providing knowledge and experience as per the standards set by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Unrestricted to any particular country, these incidents have been a cause of serious concern for forces around the world. This is probably due to the difficulty to exercise control over retired armed forces personnel. In response to this threat, many nations have been taking steps to protect themselves from Chinese military espionage targeting former military officials. [7] This has included increased security measures to protect sensitive information, as well as efforts to build stronger relationships with other nations to counter China’s growing influence. Intelligence agencies of countries like the US and the United Kingdom have come forward to issue a joint statement to counter Chinese espionage with the help of other allies around the world. [8]

It has also been reported that the U.S. government has been increasing efforts to educate former military officials about the risks of espionage and how to protect themselves. This includes providing training on how to recognise and avoid attempts at recruitment, as well as how to safeguard sensitive information. Other than pre-emptive measures, several countries are considering amendments to their laws in order to deter such incidents of espionage.

In many countries, laws do not impose restrictions in terms of the engagement of retired armed forces personnel. Meanwhile, in Great Britain, although the Official Secrets Act is applied to all serving and retired personnel, authorities are still considering revision with the help of an additional nondisclosure agreement. [9]

Chinese espionage and efforts to counter Chinese efforts are not new. However, the rise in cases with sophisticated patterns and high value targets suggests that China’s need and hunt for stealing military tools and techniques is all time high. Given the current geopolitical turmoil and rise of an authoritative China, it is making strides to compete with its geopolitical rival in all domains and by all means. Countering Chinese espionage activities requires individual and collective capacity building to understand nature of threat and devise a defensive strategy which catches up pace with China’s effort. The unending game of espionage must be met with unending counter efforts.