Australian pilot Daniel Duggan, accused of training Chinese, is backed by US marine

A former high-ranking member of the United States military has thrown his support behind Daniel Duggan, an Australian citizen and former marine who is being held in maximum security over accusations he trained Chinese military pilots more than a decade ago.

Duggan, 54, who lives near Orange in regional NSW with his wife and six children, has been in custody since October last year after the US indicated it would request his extradition. He denies any wrongdoing.