Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. wrote in a memo to Air Force personnel that service members should safeguard national security information from China
According to a memo authored by Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., a top U.S. general, China has initiated an exploitation campaign aimed at targeting both current and former U.S. service members. The memo outlines a complex effort by the Chinese military to identify and recruit military personnel with U.S. and NATO training across various specialties and career fields.
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This campaign extends to international firms doing business with the People’s Republic of China (PRC), with the goal of filling gaps in China’s military capabilities.
Gen. Brown expressed concern in the memo about the consequences of such recruitment efforts, stating that by training individuals who then train others, these actions jeopardize national security and pose risks to fellow service members and the country as a whole.
He emphasized the importance of service members continuing to safeguard “our national defense information” even after leaving the armed forces. The memo’s contents were first reported by the Washington Post.
A special agent from the Air Force’s Office of Special Investigations revealed to The Washington Post that China is attempting to exploit Americans through seemingly innocuous job offers. These job offers may seem risky at first but are part of a broader strategy.
Chinese recruiters in the U.S. Pilots and other veterans can be approached with considerable expertise, often directly targeted at defense industry events. They serve roles that require their specialized knowledge, such as former aerospace ground equipment maintainers and landing-signals officers. These positions involve operating equipment and safely guiding aircraft and pilots, requiring specific expertise.
However, behind these job offers are private companies that are controlled by the Chinese government or have contracts with the Chinese Communist Party. These organizations are looking for consultants, advisors, and trainers who can share their knowledge on the job, without realizing that they are indirectly contributing to the Chinese military’s capabilities.
This tactic allows China to gain valuable information and expertise through unsuspecting individuals who may inadvertently provide it directly to the Chinese military.
U.S. officials are concerned that service members may not want to leave their jobs after learning about ties to China. They emphasize the importance of people understanding that if an opportunity seems too good, it is. The looting campaign is being described as “faithful”.
The U.S. The warning note comes shortly after reports that the FBI and Department of Defense are monitoring 100 incidents of Chinese nationals posing as tourists in an attempt to breach military bases and other federal facilities. These incidents highlight efforts by foreign actors to access sensitive areas and information, raising national security concerns.
The so-called “gate crashers” have been responsible for several incidents, including Chinese nationals being found trying to enter US missile ranges in New Mexico and scuba divers being caught swimming near a US government rocket launch site in Florida. Many U.S. Officials have highlighted this growing trend as a potential espionage threat. In some cases, officials suspect that the Chinese government is forcing its nationals into service to test and report on security practices at these installations.
The FBI has consistently asserted that China represents the most significant long-term counterintelligence threat to the United States, particularly with regard to information and intellectual property theft. An FBI spokesman reiterated the bureau’s commitment to protecting national security and defense information from actions by the Chinese government that appear to undermine American democracy and those who defend it. The FBI works in coordination with defense, intelligence agencies, and state and local law enforcement to address these concerns.