China · updated 1h ago · 2 min read
MI5 Warns UK Universities To Cut Ties With China General Technology Research Institute
MI5 issued espionage alert urging UK universities to stop collaborating with CGTRI. CGTRI finances UK research to bolster Beijing's espionage, with over 100 UK academics involved.
12 outlets told this the same way.
6 of 9 outlets skipped it: MI5 acknowledges some academics may not have known funding source.
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MI5 targets UK academics
MI5 warned UK academics to cut ties with the China General Technology Research Institute, accusing the group of having “very strong ties” with China’s Ministry of State Security. MI5 said the “primary purpose” of CGTRI is to finance academic work that improves the espionage capability of the Ministry of State Security, and it urged universities to stop working with the organization. MI5 said it identified CGTRI as targeting more than 100 UK-based academics working in areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, covert communications systems and steganography.
Dan Jarvis said he had written to all university leaders in Britain to ensure staff ended any relationship with the CGTRI, and he said the alert exposes attempts by Chinese intelligence to covertly benefit from academic research. China’s London embassy did not respond immediately, and it previously denied such accusations while calling the Five Eyes warning “entirely fabricated and constitutes malicious slander.”
Funding, good faith, and risk
MI5 said more than 100 UK-linked academics contributed to projects funded by CGTRI that covered artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, covert communications systems and steganography. MI5 acknowledged that some academics might not have known the institute was funding the Chinese research projects they contributed to, but it warned that those who continued to take grants from or work with CGTRI now risked prosecution under the National Security Act. MI5 urged institutions to review ongoing or planned collaborations with CGTRI immediately and advised researchers working with Chinese institutions to establish the ultimate source of funding.
Dan Jarvis said the alert “exposes attempts by Chinese intelligence to covertly benefit from the expertise and research of our academics, undermining our national security, and that of our allies.” MI5 also said the institute poses a “significant threat” to UK security and asked researchers and academics to cease working on any projects related to the institute with immediate effect.
Universities and the next steps
The UK government told universities to “end all arrangements” with the China General Technology Research Institute, and it said the MI5 alert could breach the National Security Act. Libby Hackett said Russell Group universities “take national security responsibilities very seriously,” and she said international collaboration remains crucial while the UK’s research strengths can make the country a target for hostile actors. MI5 said links between CGTRI and China’s security ministry were “obfuscated prior to this alert,” and it advised academics to ensure they are complying with national security guidelines in future.
MI5 said UK academic institutions are strongly advised to immediately review any ongoing or planned collaboration with CGTRI so that MSS derives no further benefit from UK universities or research institutions. The alert framed the stakes as a threat to UK national security, and it described CGTRI as funding research that directly improves MSS technical capability for espionage.