UK Urges Academics to Sever Ties With Chinese Institute Over MI5 Spying Concerns
MI5 says more than 100 UK-linked academics worked on projects allegedly funded by Chinese intelligence through the institute.
LONDON, Sep 30: The British government has instructed universities across the UK to terminate their links with a Chinese research organisation accused by the country’s intelligence service of facilitating espionage.
Security Minister Dan Jarvis urged British academics to “end all arrangements” with the China General Technology Research Institute following an alert from MI5, the UK’s domestic security agency.
According to MI5, more than 100 academics connected to Britain have participated in research projects allegedly funded covertly by Chinese intelligence through the institute. The work reportedly covered sensitive areas including cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, covert communications and steganography, a technique used to conceal information within other forms of data.
The intelligence agency said the institute maintains “very strong ties to the Chinese Ministry of State Security” and attempts to finance research that could strengthen the Chinese government’s technical capabilities for espionage.
The warning comes amid growing concerns in Britain over alleged Chinese intelligence activities. China remains one of the UK’s major trading partners, while British security officials have increasingly highlighted what they describe as risks posed by state-backed espionage.
MI5 Director-General Ken McCallum warned last year that Chinese state actors represented a security threat facing Britain on a daily basis.
In June, the Five Eyes intelligence alliance — comprising the UK, US, Australia, New Zealand and Canada — also cautioned that Chinese intelligence operatives were using employment platforms to obtain sensitive information from people connected to military and government organisations.
Jarvis said the latest MI5 warning demonstrated efforts by Chinese intelligence agencies to secretly gain access to the expertise and research of British academics.
He said such activities could undermine the security of Britain and its allies and confirmed that he had contacted university leaders, asking them to ensure staff end their links with the institute.
The minister also warned that cooperation with the organisation could potentially constitute a breach of Britain’s National Security Act.
Libby Hackett, chief executive of the Russell Group, which represents 24 research-intensive UK universities, said member institutions take their national security responsibilities seriously.
She said research conducted by the universities, particularly in strategically important fields, represents a significant national asset. Hackett added that while international partnerships remain important to academic research, the strength of British universities can also make them potential targets for hostile actors.
