China is trying to overcome weaknesses in its military by 'aggressively recruiting' Western pilots to train its aviators, Five Eyes intel allies warn

• China has been recruiting current and former Western military personnel to train its aviators. 
• Beijing has been targeting them for recruitment in an effort to overcome shortcomings.
• A new warning from the US and its allies on Wednesday outlined the depth of this scheme. 

China is "aggressively recruiting" Western military personnel to train its air force pilots and naval aviators, attempting to lure them in with "lucrative" contracts and promises of opportunities to fly "exotic aircraft," the US and its allies are warning.

The Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance — which consists of the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand — posted a bulletin Wednesday detailing China's ongoing efforts to recruit current and former military personnel from NATO and Western countries to "bolster" the capabilities of the People's Liberation Army.

In recent years, China has taken significant steps to build up its air force and navy, much to the alarm of US officials. However, Beijing still has some critical capability gaps as it looks to modernize its forces and strengthen its aviation programs.

Those weak points have led it to seek technology and assistance from the West through malign actions.

"To overcome their shortcomings," the Chinese military "has been aggressively recruiting Western military talent to train their aviators, using private firms around the globe that conceal their PLA ties and offer recruits exorbitant salaries," said Michael Casey, the director of the US National Counterintelligence and Security Center.

"Recent actions by Western governments have impacted these operations," Casey said in a statement, "but PLA recruitment efforts continue to evolve in response."

Chinese schemes target Western pilots, flight engineers, air operations center personnel, and technical experts knowledgeable about military tactics, techniques, and procedures.

The Chinese military "wants the skills and expertise of these individuals to make its own military air operations more capable while gaining insight into Western air tactics, techniques, and procedures," the newly released bulletin said.

"The insight the PLA gains from Western military talent threatens the safety of the targeted recruits, their fellow service members, and US and allied security," it added.

Insight into Western tactics, techniques, and procedures could prove valuable for China were it to clash with US forces, a very real possibility as US military and political leaders in Washington look across the Pacific with concern over Beijing's growing military power.

The bulletin said the Western service members are targeted through "nefarious recruitment attempts" that may not be overtly obvious; for instance, these individuals may be sought out directly by the PLA or indirectly through online networking sites.

Job offers, meanwhile, could come from private companies with hidden ties to the PLA. And opportunities may be located in China or elsewhere in other parts of the world, the bulletin said, "with lucrative contracts and the opportunity to fly exotic aircraft, with vague details on the ultimate customers."

Countries like the US and UK have previously expressed their concerns over the PLA recruitment efforts, warning of the potential national security risks and taking steps to try to curb and control the threat. There have been arrests related to these activities already, such as the 2022 arrest of a former US Marine Corps pilot.

Despite efforts from Western governments to warn its veterans and military personnel about the Chinese poaching efforts, the recruitment continues to evolve, the bulletin noted. Casey said the latest warning is meant to highlight this "persistent threat" and deter current and former service members from participating in the scheme.