A former US Marine accused of training Chinese military pilots is set to be extradited to the United States to face charges, following confirmation from Australia’s Attorney General on Monday. This decision is a setback for those advocating for his release.
Daniel Duggan, a naturalized Australian citizen, was arrested in New South Wales in 2022 based on a 2017 US grand jury indictment. The indictment alleges that Duggan trained Chinese military pilots in violation of a US arms embargo.
Duggan denies the charges, asserting that US authorities were aware of his activities and that he was training civilian pilots in China, which had a rapidly expanding aviation sector.
Attorney General Mark Dreyfus confirmed that Duggan “should be extradited to face prosecution for the offenses of which he is accused.” Dreyfus further explained that Duggan had been given a chance to present reasons why he should not be extradited and that all relevant material was considered in reaching the decision.
The decision comes after a magistrate approved Duggan’s extradition in May.
In a statement, Duggan’s wife, Saffrine, expressed her distress, saying she and their six children were “shocked and absolutely heartbroken by this callous and inhumane decision” made just before Christmas. She criticized the Australian Government for failing to protect their family and stated they were now exploring their options.
If convicted, Duggan could face up to 65 years in prison.
Arguments Against Extradition
Duggan has been in custody since his arrest in October 2022, shortly after returning to Australia from six years working in China. He was detained by Australian authorities at the request of US officials.
The 2017 indictment claims that as early as 2008, Duggan was informed by the US State Department that he needed to register with the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls and obtain approval to train a foreign air force. Instead, it alleges that Duggan conspired with others, including the Test Flying Academy of South Africa (TFASA), to provide defense services in violation of the arms embargo on China.
In 2023, TFASA issued a statement to CNN, asserting that the company complies with all relevant laws. The statement clarified that Duggan was contracted for a test-pilot role with TFASA in South Africa in 2012 but had no involvement in any of the company’s training programs in China.
Duggan’s lawyer, Bernard Collaery, criticized the extradition request as a response to US Sinophobia, warning that Duggan’s extradition could be seen as a moral and foreign policy failure for Australia. He added that while some might be pleased by Duggan’s scapegoating, his transfer to a politically charged environment and uncertain prison conditions could have serious consequences.
Duggan’s arrest occurred amid growing security collaboration between the US, UK, and Australia under the AUKUS pact, a trilateral agreement aimed at countering China’s growing influence in the Pacific. Since the agreement, both the UK and Australia have tightened laws governing the post-service activities of former military personnel.