Melbourne, Australia – Former U.S. Marine Pilot Daniel Duggan Challenges Extradition Over Alleged Chinese Military Training

Daniel Duggan, a former United States Marine Corps pilot, has formally appealed his extradition from Australia to the United States amid allegations that he provided military training to Chinese pilots more than a decade ago. The case has captured international attention due to its intersection of military law, international relations, and alleged breaches of U.S. export controls.

Duggan, 57, appeared before the Australian Federal Court in Canberra on Thursday, accompanied by his legal team, after traveling approximately 350 kilometers (218 miles) from a maximum-security prison in Wellington, New South Wales. The appeal comes after Australian authorities approved his extradition to the U.S., sparking controversy and public debate over the fairness of the legal process.

Background of the Allegations

The allegations stem from Duggan’s work as an instructor at the Test Flying Academy of South Africa in 2012. According to a 2016 indictment from the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., unsealed in late 2022, Duggan is accused of conspiring with others to provide unauthorized training to Chinese military aviators in 2010, 2012, and possibly other periods.

U.S. prosecutors claim Duggan received around 88,000 Australian dollars (approximately $61,000) in payments for his role in the alleged training, including travel expenses to the U.S., South Africa, and China under the guise of “personal development training.”

Duggan, however, vehemently denies the charges, describing them as politically motivated. He maintains that he has been unfairly targeted and asserts that he violated no Australian laws during the alleged period of training.

Legal Proceedings and Extradition Controversy

The extradition of Duggan was initially approved in December by then-Australian Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus. However, Duggan’s legal team has argued that the extradition process contained significant legal flaws, raising questions about whether the U.S. has jurisdiction over his alleged actions in South Africa.

Justice James Stellios of the Australian Federal Court is scheduled to issue a verdict on Duggan’s appeal, although no official date has been set. Duggan’s lawyer, Christopher Parkin, highlighted the “extraordinary” nature of extraditing an individual from Australia for alleged violations of U.S. law occurring outside both countries.

Michelle Rowland, who succeeded Dreyfus as Attorney-General in May, has not yet reviewed her predecessor’s decision to extradite Duggan. A statement from Rowland’s office emphasized that further comment was inappropriate while the case remains active in court.

Family Support and Public Statements

Outside the court, Duggan’s wife, Saffrine Duggan, mother of their six children, spoke passionately to supporters, urging the Australian government to intervene. She criticized the extradition as a politically motivated maneuver and claimed that her husband is being used as a “pawn in an ideological war between the United States and China.”

“He has broken no Australian law and was an Australian citizen at the time of the alleged pilot training,” Saffrine Duggan said, calling for Duggan’s immediate release.

Implications and International Relevance

The case has raised broader questions about the reach of U.S. legal authority and the treatment of dual nationals or former U.S. military personnel working abroad. Legal experts note that Duggan’s appeal could set a significant precedent for future extradition cases involving international military training and geopolitical tensions.

As the legal battle unfolds, Duggan remains in custody, highlighting the ongoing tension between national security concerns, international law, and individual rights.