Around 30 British Airforce veterans were reported to have been recruited by China for training its airforce personnel recently.

While on one hand, the U.K government express strong repudiation to this, claiming the breach of the Officials of secret act 1989, the preferences of the other two parties (China and 30 British RAF pilots) signify a bitter reality.

China’s strategic vision

Similar to any other nation, China is in the path of upgrading its air power, and this requires the collaboration of technology and sharing of expertise.

Although Russia had overfilled China’s ambitions, the mighty dragon is yet exploring means to surmount the ever-condescending west.

The best fighter jet of the PLA airforce Chengdu J 20 is slightly lacking stealth features compared to its western competitor Dassault Rafale.

One of the ways to get hold of the information is to conduct a joint military exercise, but this is a unicorn dream for the Dragon which is despised by the west.

Hence it is inducting retired veterans who are well experienced and have combat knowledge in the joint military exercise involving the Rafale fighter jet (Owned by France).

And here is the catch, France, British, and the U.S have held long defence exercises which facilitate China’s needs.

This is one side of the story. While on the other hand, the British defence forces are a bit unpopular for dereliction of veterans.

British veterans and their dereliction

Around 3 – 6% of homeless British are service personnel, but the actual statistics never record these figures.

However, there is a moderate improvement since the 1990s when 20% of the homeless population was ex-services at the time, as reported by the Legion in 2014.

The cost of living analysis in British and China 

As per the analysis by the Coventry university, the cost of living in the U.K (including accommodation, food, bills, etc.) annually sums up to £21,600 – £28,200.

But the annual salary range of a UK fighter pilot is £22,000 (and the average is £14,348 which is 61% below the national average) while China is offering them as high as £2,40,624.

And on the other hand, a PLA fighter pilot (i.e. Chinese fighter pilot) gets around £51,358 (as converted) and the annual cost of living in China is just £350 – £1000.

And nevertheless, China is always in the top two positions in terms of defence expenditure and military power.

Other deprivations faced by the Royal Armed Forces veterans

The report released by the British MoD called Living in our shoes in 2020, reveals the following shortcomings:-

1. The SAF (Service Family Accommodation) was in poor condition

• • The Covenant Annual Report 2019, states that the 40% increment in the investment to improve SFA is yet insufficient to modernize the dire state of the accommodation facilities.
  • Further, 13 out of 27 reviews of the Army Inspector’s report demand primary level support over such issues, which are being highlighted since 1975. And the report alleges inaction of the State to resolve.
  • The report also exposes the inadequacy of the officer welfare provision.
  • Over 70% of the personnel interviewed express dissatisfaction over the maintained service and acknowledge underinvestment in this regard.
  • Further, as noted by the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee in 2016 the Service families were being let down by the British MoD, citing the poor state of accommodation: often leaving them for too long without basic living requirements such as heating, hot water, or cooking facilities.

Accommodation is POOR! The family’s most recent move has been such a farce as to be almost unbelievable.

– Army/RAF dual-serving partners

I have had a hole in my roof for four months which means when it rains I have to have a bucket in my hallway to collect the rainwater It results in a damp and mouldy house and with an 8 month old, a 4 and a 6 year-old this is unacceptable.

– RN Serving partner

2. Unaddressed medical consultations

The 2019 FamCAS survey identifies that 19% of families had required mental health treatment in the past year, (this has increased by 5% since 2016) but 34% of them shared their difficulties in accessing it.

3. Futile recommendations for improvement

Despite various recommendations related to improvising SFA quality and maintenance and directions to upgrade health care services, made by the report (Living in our shoes), one of the veterans expresses his under-confidence in them telling that:-

I don’t see any of this concerns about housing, education, health, spousal employment changing in the future no matter what comes out of this report as the government will brush it under the carpet or the MoD will deny all of these issues.

By these data, it is humorously certain that the situation has staged an apt role with China and the 30 RAF veterans making them mutually benefit one another.

Read More –

1. Britain and Australia plan steps to stop China from hiring their pilots.
2. Russia has requested military and economic assistance from China.

https://tdznkwjt9mxt6p1p8657.cleaver.live/russia-has-requested-military-and-economic-assistance-from-china/