Daniel Duggan: US formally demands Australia to abduct an ex-marine

• Former US citizen Daniel Duggan has been detained in Australia.
• People in the air force are being cautioned against accepting similar contracts.
• The UK warns former military pilots against joining the Chinese military.

Daniel Duggan an ex-marine who is accused of violating American arms control laws by instructing Chinese fighter pilots has been requested for extradition by the US from Australia.

Former US citizen Daniel Duggan has been detained since his arrest in October in Australia.

Mr. Duggan maintains his innocence and claims the accusations are politically motivated.

People in the air force are being cautioned against accepting similar lucrative contracts by countries like Australia and the UK.

In the US, Mr. Duggan is accused of providing Chinese pilots with “military training” at a “test flying academy” in South Africa more than ten years ago, according to four charges.

The indictment against Mr. Duggan was revealed by Sources earlier this week. It claimed that he failed to request permission from the US government despite receiving notice by email from the US State Department in 2008 that he needed to do so in order to train a foreign air force.

The former pilot was detained in Orange, New South Wales, two months ago at the request of the US; he now holds Australian citizenship and has renounced his US citizenship.

According to Mr. Duggan’s attorney, Denis Miralis, sending him to the US for trial would be a “miscarriage of justice.” He argues that because Australian law does not contain an equivalent to the charges, Australia should oppose extradition.

“The extradition should fail on the grounds that it does not meet the requirements of dual criminality,” he said. “Australia does not have an arms embargo on China, and Australia has not sanctioned China.

However, Australia is also putting a stop to the practise. Following reports that former Australian military personnel were being singled out for training, the country’s defence minister last month announced a review of secrecy policies in the armed forces.

Let me be clear: Australians who currently or previously held positions of any kind with the government have a responsibility to protect national secrets even after leaving their jobs, according to Richard Marles.

The UK also released an intelligence warning in October to caution former military pilots against joining the Chinese military.

Additionally, Mr. Miralis declared he would complain to the UN Human Rights Commission about Mr. Duggan’s “inhumane” treatment while being held, alleging that he was not given medical attention.

On December 20, five days before the Australian government’s deadline to make a decision about the extradition request, Mr. Duggan’s case will be brought back before a Sydney court.

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