Conflict & Security
MI5 warns UK universities to cut ties with China front company funding espionage research
September 30, 2026 at 02:33 PM · Updated 16d ago
Coverage
5 reports · 1 in Arabic, 4 in English · over 11 hours
SNSky News Arabia
موّل "أبحاثا تجسسية".. بريطانيا تحذر من التعاون مع معهد صيني
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AJAl Jazeera English
MI5 warns UK academics to cut ties with Chinese group over alleged spying
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BNBBC News
UK research funded by China front company being sent to Beijing's spies, MI5 warns
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TGThe Guardian
MI5 China alert will send chill through UK’s cash-strapped universities
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TGThe Guardian
MI5 issues spy alert to UK universities over Chinese front company stealing research
(opens the publisher’s site)MI5 has publicly branded the China General Technology Research Institute a front for Beijing's intelligence services and warned UK academics to cut ties with the organisation.
- More than 100 UK-linked academics contributed to CGTRI-funded projects on AI, cybersecurity, covert communications and steganography, MI5 said.
- MI5 identified the CGTRI's primary purpose as funding research that directly improves Ministry of State Security technical capability for espionage.
- Security minister Dan Jarvis said he has written to all university vice-chancellors to end relationships with the organisation.
- MI5 warned continued collaboration could lead to criminal charges for assisting a foreign intelligence service under the National Security Act 2023.
- Beijing denied the accusations, calling them fabricated and slanderous, in response to MI5's warning to UK universities.