MI5 Warns UK Academics Over Chinese Institute's Spy Links

MI5 has issued an unprecedented public warning about a new Chinese spy threat targeting British academics.

The Security Service says a Chinese institute is secretly trying to exploit the expertise of universities and other research bodies to help Beijing build more powerful espionage tools. In a highly unusual alert, it strongly advises everyone involved in UK academia to cut ties with this company or risk criminal charges under

national security legislation. Here is the Security Service espionage alert. It's short and blunt.

MI5 says it's discovered that an entity known as the China General Technology Research Institute has, quote, "Very strong ties with the Ministry of State Security." That's China's powerful civilian intelligence and security service.

The warning says the UK has identified that the primary purpose of the institute is to fund academic research that directly improves China's technical capability for espionage. While no one is named, the Security Service says it has identified more than 100 UK-linked academics who have contributed to

projects funded by this company, though it says in some cases the source of the money may not have been known.

The kind of collaborative projects that have rung alarm bells include research into AI, cybersecurity, covert communication systems, and steganography, which, and I did have to look this up, is the practice of hiding an image or a file inside something that isn't secret.

MI5 warned this kind of activity supports Chinese espionage, which poses a threat to UK national security. Academics are being advised to terminate any projects with this Chinese institute and to check the source of any other research funding from China, underlining the seriousness of the

threat. Dan Jarvis, the Security Minister, has even written to all university vice chancellors to request their help. He said, "This 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.

International partnerships are vital to ensure our universities and research institutes continue to thrive, but we will take robust action to defend against the threats we face." China's embassy in the UK is being approached for comment, but in the past, it has denied allegations of espionage.