中国による元空軍パイロットの勧誘阻止へ断固対応　英政府

【ロンドンＡＦＰ＝時事】英政府は１８日、中国が自軍兵士の訓練のため英空軍パイロット経験者らをリクルートする活動に対して、「断固とした措置を取っている」と明らかにした。（資料写真）
　英国防省報道官はＡＦＰに対し、「中国人民解放軍の兵士訓練を目的に、英空軍の現役および退役パイロットをヘッドハントしようとする中国のリクルート活動を阻止するため、断固とした措置を取っている」と述べた。
　ジェームズ・ヒーピー国防担当閣外相は英衛星放送スカイニューズに対し、こうした事案は「国防省内で数年前から懸念されてきた」と認め、「われわれの空軍の能力を探るためのパイロットのリクルート活動は、国防省とその情報部門にとっての明確な懸念材料だ」と述べた。
　ヒーピー氏は、関与しているパイロットに対しては関係者がやめるよう警告を出してきたとしており、従わない場合は罪に問えるよう、法整備を進めていくと述べている。
　英メディアによると、中国側のこうした活動は２０１９年から行われており、最近になって活発化。これまでに元パイロット３０人以上が最大２４万ポンド（約４０００万円）の提示報酬で勧誘に応じた。そのうちの多くは５０代で、最近英空軍を退役した人だという。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2022/10/19-13:43）

The UK government said on Tuesday it was taking decisive steps against a Chinese recruitment effort to bring in former and serving British airforce pilots to train its military personnel.
While British military personnel frequently take part in training exercises with foreign armies, any collusion by ex-pilots with China -- which London has dubbed the number one threat to domestic and global security -- poses a serious concern.
We are taking decisive steps to stop Chinese recruitment schemes attempting to headhunt serving and former UK Armed Forces pilots to train People's Liberation Army personnel, a spokesperson for the British defence ministry told AFP.
UK media said that over 30 ex-pilots had accepted offers upwards of £240,000 ($273,750) with many of those recruited in their 50s and having recently left the British airforce.
The practice has been going on since 2019 but has been stepped up recently, the reports said.
Britain's defence ministry said it was reviewing the use of confidentiality contracts and non-disclosure agreements, adding that all serving and former personnel are subject to the Official Secrets Act, which prohibits UK public servants from sharing state secrets with foreign powers.
The new National Security Bill will create additional tools to tackle contemporary security challenges ? including this one, the spokesperson added.
China's Ministry of National Defense did not respond to calls requesting comment from AFP.
Relations between London and Beijing have soured following China's crackdown in former UK colony Hong Kong and disputes over technology giant Huawei's involvement in the roll-out of Britain's 5G network, as well as concerns about human rights and influence peddling.
In a speech in London this month, the director of Britain's GCHQ spy agency Jeremy Fleming warned China's growing technological dominance is an increasingly urgent problem for Western countries, urging them to act to defend their values and influence.
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