<p>German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius on Saturday called on China to stop enlisting former German military pilots for the training of its own forces.</p>.<p>"I have made it clear that I expect this policy to be stopped immediately," German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius told reporters after meeting his Chinese counterpart at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Asia's most important security conference.</p>.<p>He added the Chinese defence minister had not denied the practice of hiring former German military pilots, but played down its significance.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/china-should-be-judged-by-its-actions-not-its-words-german-defence-minister-1195250.html" target="_blank">China should be judged by its actions, not its words: German defence minister</a></strong></p>.<p>Pistorius did not give any further details in a recording of his comments that was distributed by the defence ministry in Berlin.</p>.<p>German news magazine <em>Spiegel</em> reported on Friday that former German fighter pilots have been training Chinese military pilots for years.</p>.<p>German security officials consider it highly likely that the pilots have been passing on expert military knowledge, such as the secret operational tactics of German forces and NATO, <em>Spiegel</em> said.</p>.<p>They may have even exercised attack scenarios that China may find useful for an offensive on Taiwan, Spiegel said, citing the security officials.</p>.<p>Pistorius said he had also pointed out to his Chinese counterpart the importance of upholding the rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific, and stressed the importance of freedom of navigation in the region in order to keep maritime passages and trade routes open.</p>.<p>The minister is set to travel on to Indonesia and India as part of a longer Asia trip. </p>
<p>German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius on Saturday called on China to stop enlisting former German military pilots for the training of its own forces.</p>.<p>"I have made it clear that I expect this policy to be stopped immediately," German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius told reporters after meeting his Chinese counterpart at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Asia's most important security conference.</p>.<p>He added the Chinese defence minister had not denied the practice of hiring former German military pilots, but played down its significance.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/china-should-be-judged-by-its-actions-not-its-words-german-defence-minister-1195250.html" target="_blank">China should be judged by its actions, not its words: German defence minister</a></strong></p>.<p>Pistorius did not give any further details in a recording of his comments that was distributed by the defence ministry in Berlin.</p>.<p>German news magazine <em>Spiegel</em> reported on Friday that former German fighter pilots have been training Chinese military pilots for years.</p>.<p>German security officials consider it highly likely that the pilots have been passing on expert military knowledge, such as the secret operational tactics of German forces and NATO, <em>Spiegel</em> said.</p>.<p>They may have even exercised attack scenarios that China may find useful for an offensive on Taiwan, Spiegel said, citing the security officials.</p>.<p>Pistorius said he had also pointed out to his Chinese counterpart the importance of upholding the rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific, and stressed the importance of freedom of navigation in the region in order to keep maritime passages and trade routes open.</p>.<p>The minister is set to travel on to Indonesia and India as part of a longer Asia trip. </p>