China is specifically recruiting former Bundeswehr soldiers to train Chinese fighter pilots. Defense Minister Pistorius is calling for an immediate end to this practice.
This analysis is IPPEN. MEDIA as part of a cooperation with the China.Table Professional Briefing – it was first published by China.Table on June 5, 2023.
SINGAPORE – Boris Pistorius is visibly upset when he appears in front of the cameras at the weekend. Shortly before, the German Defense Minister had met with his Chinese counterpart Li Shangfu in Singapore. What was intended as a friendly exchange on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue ended in a clear message to China. "I have made it clear that I expect this practice to end immediately," Pistorius said after the meeting. In addition, he had made it clear to the Chinese general "that he would certainly not be amused if I tried it myself".
What Pistorius means has it all – and is another setback in the already tense relations between China and Germany. Recent research by ZDF and Spiegel shows how China specifically recruited former Bundeswehr soldiers to train Chinese fighter pilots in the People's Republic. What is said to have started ten years ago has apparently developed into a sophisticated system over time. The worrying thing is that this is by no means a new strategy by China. And: Before Germany, at least the USA and Great Britain were also affected.
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Not ideology, but money
In the present cases of the former Bundeswehr pilots, however, they are not supposed to be ideological defectors. Rather, princely salaries have apparently played a decisive role: Bundeswehr fighter pilots usually end their careers in the cockpit at the age of 41. There are biological reasons for this, such as decreasing reflexes or weakening eyesight. Those who retire at this age usually receive about 50 percent of their last salary as a pension. From the point of view of many ex-pilots, apparently too little. As a result, many take on part-time jobs after leaving military service.
A luxurious offer from China comes in handy. In the present reports, there is talk of several hundred thousand euros. By way of comparison, ex-pilots of the British Royal Air Force are said to have been offered the equivalent of 275,000 euros by the Chinese side to share their expert knowledge with the Chinese Air Force.
Chinese J-20 stealth jet (symbolic image) © IMAGO/Yu Hongchun
Sandschneider: China is concerned with Western battle tactics
One thing is clear: the former Bundeswehr soldiers will by no means have offered their Chinese colleagues basic aviation training. "This is about sensitive, security-relevant information," Eberhard Sandschneider tells Table.Media. "The Chinese side wants to know how the West is training, what the mood is like within the troops and what techniques and combat tactics are being tested for emergencies," explains the political scientist.
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However, such expertise also deteriorates very quickly. After a year or two, both technique and tactics would change again. "China will therefore continue to try to get as close as possible to active people in the future."
However, Sandschneider does not see the problem in recruitment, but rather describes it as an "understandable procedure to eliminate an existing technology and training gap". Rather, the partner of the consulting institute "Berlin Global Advisors" sees the problem on the German side. "Clear rules must be found here on how to protect sensitive knowledge," says Sandschneider.
"Alarming findings"
CDU foreign policy expert Jürgen Hardt is alarmed. "It is completely unacceptable for German soldiers to sell their knowledge to non-NATO partners. Pistorius urgently needs to get the military service courts and the military counterintelligence service to examine both soldiers' law and criminal law, from treason to international criminal law, which is also enshrined in the criminal code," says the CDU chairman in the Foreign Affairs Committee to Table.Media.
Agnieszka Brugger warns: "These are more than alarming initial findings. Maximum vigilance is needed against states like China and their aggressive information gathering, especially in the current situation," says the security politician of the Greens to Table.Media.
The Office for the Protection of the Constitution warns against Russia, Iran and China
This is because the present cases reflect a very common practice. For years, foreign services have been courting the favor of former decision-makers. The advances range from simple flattery to invitations to travel to lucrative consulting contracts. Former Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder was hardly given a lucrative post by the Russian energy company Gazprom because of his business expertise.
The German Office for the Protection of the Constitution explicitly warns against Russia, Iran and China. With regard to the People's Republic, it says: "In Germany, the Chinese services focus on politics and administration, business, science and technology, and the military."
China's strategy: Targeted tapping into know-how
What some people harmlessly call the "grey beard strategy" has a clear goal: to siphon off existing know-how. For a long time, bodies such as the Committee on Foreign Affairs were considered an attractive target, as sensitive geostrategic issues are discussed here. But China has broadened its target area: In the past, recruitment was mostly concentrated in the areas of politics and business, but now Germany's science and military have long since been affected.
The former Bundeswehr soldiers are said to have been paid through shell companies in the Seychelles, according to reports. At least three of them worked for the Beijing-based company Lode Technology Ltd, officially as an "Aviation Consultant Contractor". The shareholder of Lode Technology is none other than Su Bin, a Chinese spy who was unmasked years ago.
For years, Su spied on U.S. military secrets, including the C-17 Globemaster four-engine military transport aircraft, as well as the F-35 and F-22 stealth fighters. In an intercepted email, Su boasted that he had received F-35 test plans and blueprints that would allow China to quickly catch up with the US. Su was arrested in 2014, and two years later he pleaded guilty in a U.S. federal court in California and was extradited to China.
Kiesewetter: Germany naïve and naïve
Roderich Kiesewetter is not particularly surprised by the reports about the German pilots. "You shouldn't surprise us. China selectively and strategically buys knowledge and skills from Western countries in order to strengthen its military capabilities," says the CDU foreign policy expert and retired colonel of the Bundeswehr to Table.Media. So far, Germany has been extremely naïve and naïve towards China.
The deputy chairman of the Bundestag committee for the control of the intelligence services warns: "We must be aware that China is using the know-how of ex-pilots from Great Britain, Germany and other NATO states to acquire NATO air attack and defense techniques in a targeted manner, and that China is no longer disguising its intentions to attack Taiwan with such measures."
Incidentally, Boris Pistorius reported after his conversation with China's defense minister that Li Shangfu had not even denied the incident. The Chinese defense minister is said to have merely tried to relativize the importance of the German pilots. This is little more than trying to limit the damage at a time when China actually wants to get Europe on its side. (Collaboration: Stefan Braun)
