DIRCO says US ‘misdirected’ in Chinese army simulator claims

By Johnathan Paoli

The Test Flying Academy of South Africa (TFASA) and the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) have rejected allegations by the United States that advanced military flight simulators produced in South Africa were illegally exported to the China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA), with DIRCO dismissing the claims as “misdirected”.

DIRCO spokesperson Chrispin Phiri told Inside Politics that Washington had confused a private institution with the South African government, adding that a TFASA report outlined the true nature of the circumstances.

“The US has misdirected its concerns with a private entity. Moreover the response of the said company is instructive on the facts. We stand ready to reiterate this through diplomatic channels,” Phiri said.

The denials follow a US Department of Justice announcement this week that it had filed a civil forfeiture action seeking permanent seizure of two mission crew trainers (MCTs) that prosecutors say were destined