British MI5 warns: More than 100 British academics are being used by Chinese intelligence agencies for espionage activities

Author, Dominic Casciani

Role, BBC UK Home Affairs and Legal Affairs Correspondent

Posted 3 minutes ago

Reading time: 2 minutes

MI5 has warned that China, through a front agency working for its intelligence and security services, has obtained the assistance of more than 100 academics with links to British universities for espionage operations against the UK without the knowledge of these academics.

In a rare public warning, Britain's domestic security intelligence agency warned universities and academics that if they continue to maintain links with the China General Technology Research Institute (CGTRI), they may eventually face criminal prosecution for assisting foreign countries.

Dan Jarvis, the British Secretary of State for Security Affairs, said that MI5's warning exposed the Chinese intelligence agency's attempt to use British academic research to harm British national security.

He said he has sent letters to all university presidents demanding an end to ties with the institution.

In June this year, MI5 and key partners in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand jointly issued a warning that Chinese military intelligence agencies were targeting professional social networking sites and online job search platforms.

The latest warning from UK independence goes further, revealing what MI5 says is a growing threat within British academic institutions.

MI5 said the China Academy of General Technology - whose English name is sometimes translated as China Academy of General Technology (CAGT) - had "very close ties" with China's Ministry of State Security.

"MI5 has confirmed that the main purpose of the China Institute of General Technology is to fund academic research that directly enhances the espionage technology capabilities of China's Ministry of State Security," the warning said.

The warning added: "More than 100 academics with links to the UK have participated in projects funded by the Chinese Ministry of State Security through the China Institute of General Technology." MI5 added that in some cases, researchers may not be aware of the front agency's role in their projects.

British scholars have participated in projects funded by the China Institute of General Technology, and their research areas include artificial intelligence, network security, covert communication systems and message steganography. Steganography refers to hiding secret messages or files within ordinary messages or objects.

MI5 said: "These activities facilitate the Chinese Ministry of State Security's espionage activities and pose a threat to British national security."

The security warning said that many academic institutions and individuals may be cooperating with the China General Research Institute of Technology "out of good intentions" because the institution's relationship with China's Ministry of State Security has been "deliberately concealed".

The warning continued: "It is strongly recommended that British academic institutions immediately review any ongoing or planned cooperation with the China General Institute of Technology to ensure that the Chinese Ministry of National Security can no longer benefit from British universities or research institutions."

This public warning means that British academics who fail to take immediate action may end up breaking the law.

The warning emphasized that the National Security Act, an important legislation passed by the UK in 2023 to combat national espionage activities, created a new crime of assisting foreign intelligence agencies. If the person concerned should reasonably know that his behavior is providing such assistance, he may commit this crime.