Australia has detained a former U.S. Marine Corps fighter pilot in response to a request from Washington, according to officials in Canberra on Tuesday. The arrest comes as Western nations scurry to examine accusations that China has been stealing retired military personnel.
According to court documents, Daniel Edmund Duggan appeared in court in New South Wales on Friday.
“A person was arrested on 21 October 2022 in response to a provisional arrest request from the United States of America,” the Australian attorney general’s office stated in a statement. As the issue is currently before the courts, it would be inappropriate to comment further.
In November, Duggan is expected to reappear in court.
According to a source in the aviation industry, the FBI was seeking Duggan because he had worked in China. His attorney told Reuters he was unable to comment.
According to a treaty with Australia, the United States has sixty days following Duggan’s arrest to request his extradition.
Duggan operated a company named Top Gun Australia, which advertised itself as the “leading adventure flight company” in Australia.
Duggan described himself on the company’s website as a “former U.S. Marine Corps officer of over 12 years.” According to the website, he flew flights in support of Operation Southern Watch from Kuwait and the USS Boxer.
The website states, “As a highly qualified fighter pilot, he piloted harrier jump jets off aircraft carriers around the world.”
Three Australian pilots told Reuters that Duggan flew ex-military planes at air displays.
Last week, Australia initiated an investigation into what its defense minister described as alarming accusations that China had hired retired Western air force pilots to teach its military.
The U.K. government announced last week that it would take “decisive action” against a Chinese recruitment attempt to bring in retired and active British air force pilots to teach its military troops. While British military personnel often participate in training exercises with foreign armies, any cooperation between ex-pilots and China, which London has labeled the “number one danger” to domestic and global security, is extremely concerning.
Monday, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland accused China of tampering with the American legal system as he announced the indictment of thirteen Chinese nationals who allegedly worked for Beijing’s spy agencies.