A former French fighter pilot, Pierre-Henri Chuet, was charged on July 23 and placed under judicial supervision for allegedly collaborating with a foreign power and collecting and delivering sensitive information concerning France's fundamental interests. The Paris public prosecutor's office confirmed the charges, which also include the disclosure of national defense secrets. The investigation, now overseen by an examining magistrate, followed suspicions regarding Chuet's ties with China.
The Ministry of Armed Forces alerted authorities on February 19, 2025, concerning a former service member suspected of intelligence activities for a foreign power, divulging national defense secrets, violating instructions, engaging in multiple activities, and money laundering related to tax fraud. This led to an initial investigation by the French General Directorate for Internal Security (DGSI). According to sources close to the case, Chuet's trips to China in September 2018 and August 2019 occurred while he was still an active military member, without informing his superiors as required by military regulations. These trips were reportedly organized and financed by a South African aviation company.
Chuet, who is also a well-known YouTuber with over 560,000 subscribers, held dual French and Canadian citizenship. He served in the French Navy's carrier-based aviation unit, flying Rafale M and Super Étendard fighter jets, and completed approximately 200 carrier landings. He left military service due to a stroke. His specialized expertise in carrier-based aviation is particularly sought after, especially as China expands its aircraft carrier capabilities with systems like CATOBAR, which are primarily mastered by the US Navy and, to a lesser extent, the French Navy.
The charges laid against Chuet include disclosing national defense secrets, providing intelligence to a foreign power, and collecting and delivering information vital to national interests. Although Chuet reportedly told Le Canard enchaîné that his 2019 trip to China did not go well and that he had not returned since, the investigation centers on these past activities. This case highlights significant national security and defense concerns for France, and parallels have been drawn to other cases of suspected Chinese interference, such as an incident involving a mathematician in Bordeaux.
