MP calls for ‘unpatriotic’ RAF pilots to be stripped of citizenship

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A Tory MP has called for “unpatriotic” RAF pilots who were allegedly paid £250,000 to train Chinese fighter pilots to be stripped of their British citizenship. Tobias Ellwood, chair of the Defence Select Committee, told Express.co.uk that the move should be “treated as a form of breach in security”, describing it as a “shocking story from the Ministry of Defence”. China is said to have recruited as many as 30 former RAF pilots to teach their own pilots ways to defeat western warplanes and helicopters, prompting the British defence intelligence to issue a “threat alert”.

Officials claim that Beijing has lured retired military pilots for an annual salary of around £240,000.

Mr Ellwood told Express.co.uk: “We should not be allowing RAF veterans to be recruited by China.

“British citizens should know better given the breach in trust between our two countries and the long-term threats China now poses to Western security.

“I would advocate that any former RAF personnel that are working with China in this context, to train Chinese pilots to take on western pilots, should be stripped of their British citizenships.”

Mr Ellwood said that China poses a “complex and systematic challenge” to the West, warning it “has its eyes on Taiwan” and “it will do that with an ever-growing Chinese airforce”.

He added: “Here we are, seeing in the most unpatriotic way training the very pilots that we might one day be up against.

“This is akin to breaching the official secrets act.

“At the moment there is nothing illegal about this.

“I do hope expedited through parliament there will be a new National Security Bill that will ensure this never happens in the future.”

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