Canberra (TIP): Australia’s defence minister said on November 9 he had told the nation’s military to review secrecy safeguards in response to concerns that Beijing was recruiting pilots to train the Chinese People’s Liberation Army. Defence Minister Richard Marles ordered the review after asking the Defence Department last month to investigate reports that China had approached former Australian military personnel to become trainers.

“In the information that has now been provided to me by Defence, there are enough concerns in my mind that I have asked Defence to engage in a detailed examination about the policies and procedures that apply to our former Defence personnel, and particularly those who come into possession of our nation’s secrets,” Marles told reporters. Marles declined to say whether any Australian had provided military training to the Chinese. He said a joint police-intelligence service task force was investigating “a number of cases” among former service personnel. “What we are focused on right now is making sure that we do examine the policies and the procedures that are currently in place in respect of our former Defence personnel to make sure they are adequate,” Marles said. “And if they are not, and if there are weaknesses in that system, then we are absolutely committed to fixing them.” Australia’s allies Britain and Canada share Australia’s concerns that China is attempting to poach military expertise. Britain’s Defence Ministry last month issued an intelligence alert warning former and current military pilots against Chinese headhunting programmes aimed at recruiting them. Armed Forces Minister James Heappey said authorities will make it a legal offense for pilots to continue with such training activities. (AP)