Daniel Duggan, a former US Marine and naturalized Australian, is set to be extradited to the United States to face serious charges related to training Chinese military pilots, as confirmed by Australia's Attorney General Mark Dreyfus.

If convicted, Duggan could face a lengthy prison sentence of up to 60 years, although he firmly denies all allegations against him.

Dreyfus noted that he carefully reviewed all relevant materials before approving the extradition, but he did not provide details on when Duggan would be transferred to the U.S.

This extradition comes amid heightened scrutiny and stricter laws in Australia and the UK regarding the activities of former military personnel, particularly in light of the AUKUS security pact established in 2021.

Duggan's case has emerged alongside warnings from Britain to former military pilots about the risks of working for China, prompting Australia to tighten regulations against training foreign militaries.

His legal team argues that Duggan is being used as a political pawn in the context of escalating US-China tensions, suggesting that his case reflects broader geopolitical issues.

Duggan maintains that he only trained civilian pilots during China's aviation industry expansion and insists that U.S. officials were aware of his activities.

U.S. authorities reportedly found correspondence linking Duggan to a convicted hacker associated with a Chinese state aviation company, raising further concerns about his activities.

Despite the serious nature of the charges, Duggan has consistently denied all allegations and has fought against the extradition for two years, supported by a grassroots campaign from his family.

His family, particularly his wife Saffrine, has expressed devastation over the extradition decision, feeling abandoned by the Australian government and considering their legal options.

Duggan, who served in the Marine Corps for 12 years, renounced his U.S. citizenship in 2016 and is a father of six, raising concerns about the impact of his legal troubles on his children.

Duggan retains the right to appeal Dreyfus's decision in the Federal Court, having previously submitted an extensive document arguing against his extradition.