Pistorius demands training stop from Beijing
Defense Minister Pistorius has been alarmed by the research conducted by ZDF and “Spiegel” revealing former German soldiers training fighter pilots in China. He has demanded an immediate stop of the practice from China’s Defense Minister.
Following the research by ZDF and “Spiegel” about former German soldiers training fighter pilots in China, calls for consequences are increasing. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius approached his Chinese counterpart, Li Shangfu, during the security conference in Singapore. “I made it clear that I expect this practice to be stopped immediately and made it clear that he certainly would not be amused if I tried to do the same,” said Pistorius.
The Chinese general responded very cautiously to the request to stop the training program. “He didn’t deny it, but downplayed its importance from his perspective,” said the SPD politician.
Pistorius announces consequences
Pistorius had already announced consequences yesterday. Each individual case will be examined. “We will do this consistently and all violations will be punished,” Pistorius assured.
Although soldiers may take on other tasks after their time in the Bundeswehr, it must be within the framework of the law. “There are clear rules in the Soldiering Act about what a soldier, what a female soldier can and cannot do after the end of their service time and what they have to report,” explained the minister. “There are also clear rules about confidentiality agreements and much more.”
“Naivety and German naivety must come to an end”
For the chairwoman of the Defense Committee of the Bundestag, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, this is not enough – she demands stricter regulations from ZDF and “Spiegel.” “It’s time for this naivety and German naivety to come to an end,” said the FDP politician. “It is unacceptable for former air force soldiers to train fighter pilots in China after their service time.”
“After their service period, all forms of military training by our soldiers must be limited to NATO countries and strategic partners,” she demanded. Training in China is a scandal.
China spying on NATO defense
According to CDU defense politician Roderich Kiesewetter, China’s recruitment of ex-soldiers is mainly to spy on NATO defense strategies.
“We have to be aware that China, with the know-how of ex-pilots from Great Britain, Germany, and other NATO countries, acquires targeted air attack and defense techniques of NATO and, with such measures, no longer disguises its attack intentions on Taiwan,” said the deputy chairman of the Bundestag committee for the control of the intelligence services to ZDF.
Butikofer: Rule of law must fight back
Reinhard Butikofer, chairman of the China delegation of the EU Parliament, stressed in “Spiegel” that the rule of law must make it clear that it can defend itself and protect the interests of democracy.
“If greed leads to creating security risks for one’s own country and its allies as a business model, then not only are the boundaries of decency crossed,” said the Green politician.
Trainers may have practiced attack scenarios
According to reports, at least a handful of ex-German Air Force officers have been employed as trainers in China for several years, earning annual salaries of several hundred thousand euros. Their payment is reportedly “apparently being processed through mailbox companies in the Seychelles” in several cases. Some of them were also employed by a company of a Chinese spy, according to the reports.
According to “Spiegel”, German security agencies now assume that the pilots have divulged military knowledge, disclosed secret deployment tactics of the Bundeswehr and NATO, and may have practiced attack scenarios.
According to reports from both media outlets, several pilots left unanswered inquiries or were not reachable. One pilot rejected the accusations.