MI5 Warns UK Universities Over Chinese Funding Of Academic Research

The British government has instructed universities to cease all collaboration with the China General Technology Research Institute following MI5's warning of potential espionage risks, reports the source. Security Minister Dan Jarvis advised British academics to "terminate all arrangements" with the institute. The Chinese embassy in the UK denied the accusations, describing them as "imaginary and fabricated," and lodged representations with the UK side.

MI5 revealed that over 100 UK academics have been involved in projects secretly funded by Chinese intelligence through the research institute, which included work on cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, covert communications systems, and steganography. The institute is alleged to have "very strong ties to the Chinese Ministry of State Security" and aims to fund research that enhances China's espionage capabilities.

British intelligence agencies have been increasingly concerned about espionage threats from China, a major trading partner. In June, Five Eyes intelligence-sharing nations also cautioned that Chinese spies were targeting job websites to extract sensitive information from military and government personnel. Jarvis stated that the MI5 alert exposes Chinese intelligence attempts to benefit from UK academic expertise, undermining national and allied security.

The Chinese embassy emphasized that such collaborations are voluntary and comply with laws and regulations, urging UK intelligence authorities to stop spreading false information and undermining academic exchanges and research cooperation between China and the UK.