Aukus

[Jacob]

The latest seems to be recruiting US and French pilots to help train the Peoples' Liberation Army Navy Air Force in carrier operations.

I'll admit being somewhat alarmed and... uhm... disappointed... in this development.

Can't something be done?

[Crazy_Ivan80]

The latest seems to be recruiting US and French pilots to help train the Peoples' Liberation Army Navy Air Force in carrier operations.

I'll admit being somewhat alarmed and... uhm... disappointed... in this development.

Can't something be done?

what's the punishment for treason?

[Barrister]

The latest seems to be recruiting US and French pilots to help train the Peoples' Liberation Army Navy Air Force in carrier operations.

I'll admit being somewhat alarmed and... uhm... disappointed... in this development.

Can't something be done?

what's the punishment for treason?

There's no state of war between China and US/France.  How is this any different from going to China to teach English (or French)?

[crazy canuck]

The latest seems to be recruiting US and French pilots to help train the Peoples' Liberation Army Navy Air Force in carrier operations.

I'll admit being somewhat alarmed and... uhm... disappointed... in this development.

Can't something be done?

what's the punishment for treason?

There's no state of war between China and US/France.  How is this any different from going to China to teach English (or French)?

I suppose there may be a difference if the technical training discloses information the retired folks are not permitted to disclose.

[Jacob]

There's no state of war between China and US/France.  How is this any different from going to China to teach English (or French)?

In the eventuality of conflict between China and the US/France, the PLA's ability to conduct successful carrier operations is likely more harmful than a slightly improved level of English (or French) proficiency in the broad Chinese population.

Pretty obvious, I'd think.

[Josquius]

The latest seems to be recruiting US and French pilots to help train the Peoples' Liberation Army Navy Air Force in carrier operations.

I'll admit being somewhat alarmed and... uhm... disappointed... in this development.

Can't something be done?

what's the punishment for treason?

There's no state of war between China and US/France.  How is this any different from going to China to teach English (or French)?

People with a degree, a pulse, and willingness to spend a year or two working for sub minimum wage for the chance to live somewhere exotic are 2 a penny.
Elite fighter pilots that have had a huge amount of government training investment to develop skills in how to kill foreigners... Pretty radically different.
Or at least it should be.
Since it's happening I suppose the government forgot to put obvious stuff in the contracts?

[Barrister]

There's no state of war between China and US/France.  How is this any different from going to China to teach English (or French)?

In the eventuality of conflict between China and the US/France, the PLA's ability to conduct successful carrier operations is likely more harmful than a slightly improved level of English (or French) proficiency in the broad Chinese population.  Crazy Ivan specified treason - which might work if a war was going on, but there isn't.

Pretty obvious, I'd think.

That of course is very true, so I think you perhaps misunderstand where I was coming from.

I don't like these retired pilots going over to train PLA pilots.  But legally I'm not sure what can be done about it.

[Razgovory]

I bet when you are in the navy they make you sign documents that you won't reveal certain things to foreign powers.

[Jacob]

That of course is very true, so I think you perhaps misunderstand where I was coming from.

I don't like these retired pilots going over to train PLA pilots.  But legally I'm not sure what can be done about it.

Last year the US took action to damage the Chinese chip manufacturing industry. The action included some sort of legislation making it extremely unattractive (and, I believe, some sort of offense) for American citizens and green card holders to work in the Chinese chip industry. As I understand it, a significant number of Chinese-American scientists and executives quite the industry basically overnight as a result.

I'm not sure why something similar couldn't be done for fighter pilots and other military experts.

[grumbler]

Several of these pilots have in fact been arrested.  Secrecy commitments never lapse

[Jacob]

Several of these pilots have in fact been arrested.  Secrecy commitments never lapse

That sounds pretty reasonable. Do you have any links?

[grumbler]

Several of these pilots have in fact been arrested.  Secrecy commitments never lapse

That sounds pretty reasonable. Do you have any links?

I said "several" but the stories I read probably all referred to the one guy.  Here's Al Jazeera's version

Arrested in Australia in October, Daniel Duggan, 54, is accused of money laundering and conspiracy to export defence services to China by instructing Chinese military pilots in how to land on aircraft carriers, according to a 2017 indictment unsealed by a US court in December.

[Jacob]

Obliged

[The Larch]

"Conspiracy to export defence services" sounds like a very fancy accusation.

[The Minsky Moment]

The US has a detailed arms export control regime.  It includes controls on providing defense services, which in turn includes things like military training of foreign forces.  A US person or company wishing to offer such services must apply for a receive a license from the US government.  Not surprisingly, the policy of the US government is not to approve such licenses for providing services to the PRC.

According to the allegations, Duggan didn't apply for a license.  He was warned by the State Department not to supply services without a license.  He ignored the warning.

Deliberate violations of the arms export control regime can be punished by criminal penalties.