A senior official accuses China of wanting to “exploit” American military knowledge

“The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) wants to exploit your knowledge and skills to fill the gaps in its military capabilities,” writes General CQ Brown, who has been nominated for the post of chief of staff of the armed forces, in a letter addressed to members of the Air Force.

“Foreign companies are targeting and recruiting US and NATO trained military talents in all fields and specialties to train the PLA abroad,” he adds.

“By de facto training the trainer, many of those who accept contracts with these foreign companies are harming our national security, endangering the very security of their military colleagues and that of the country, and are perhaps in the process of break the law”.

China and the United States have reconnected in recent months in hopes of stabilizing complicated bilateral relations.

Tensions have risen a notch this year, in particular with the flight over American territory by a Chinese balloon accused by Washington of being a spy balloon. The question of Taiwan, supported militarily by Washington but which China considers an integral part of its territory, is also causing sparks.