How does China manipulate Westerners?

Competition between China And the United StateExacerbated by issues of global superiority, they are particularly evident in the field of defense and security. This geopolitical competition, as each superpower seeks to assert its influence, leads to attempts at espionage and the acquisition of advanced technologies. The United States, often in alliance with other Western countries, aims to counter Chinese ambitions that extend beyond the military sphere and also affect global economic and technological aspects.

Recently, a joint press release from the Anglo-Saxon countries highlighted a worrying practice: the poaching of former military personnel by China. This strategy extends to countriesNATOAiming to seize not only their knowledge but also important military secrets. This maneuver could provide a significant strategic advantage to Beijing in the event of future conflicts.

The phenomenon is not new. For many years, former Western military personnel have been attracted to lucrative positions within private companies. These jobs, often with exorbitant salaries, are offered by entities operating in diverse jurisdictions, from Somalia to Laos. However, these companies often hide a deeper connection to China, which seeks to leverage this foreign expertise to enhance its military capabilities.

The positions presented are not trivial. They mainly relate to advisor or trainer roles in which Western military personnel, particularly the British, French and Germans, transfer their knowledge directly to PLA pilots and technicians. These interactions, which often begin innocently, quickly evolve into sessions where technical and tactical secrets are revealed.

The concern of the Western General Staff has increased, especially with the extent of these practices revealed in 2022. The armies of the member states of the Five Eyes intelligence group, which includes United StateBritain, Australia and New Zealand have officially expressed concerns about what they see as “poaching” for their expertise.

In addition to attractive salaries, these offers also include the possibility for these pilots, often at the end of their careers, to fly Chinese military aircraft, described as “exotic”. It seems that this unique opportunity, along with the adventure it represents, is enough to convince many military retirees to undertake this adventure, despite the potential consequences for the national security of their home countries.

These practices reveal an entrenched strategy on the part of China to gain an advantage in an increasingly tense international context, especially in the Indo-Pacific region where China’s military presence is described as particularly aggressive. The scale of this strategy highlights the need for Westerners to rethink their approach to information security and military personnel in the age of globalization.