(Deutsche Welle Chinese website) The British intelligence agency MI5 issued an unprecedented warning on September 30, saying that a Chinese organization, on behalf of the Ministry of State Security of China (referred to as the "Ministry of State Security"), participated in funding academic research in fields such as artificial intelligence (AI).
In its "espionage alert", MI5 said that more than 100 scholars in the UK were involved in projects funded by the China General Technology Research Institute (CGTRI), which has "extremely strong connections" with China's Ministry of State Security.
MI5 said it was the first time the agency had independently issued such an alert publicly.
The "Espionage Alert" stated: "MI5 has determined that the main purpose of the China General Technology Research Institute is to fund academic research that directly improves the espionage technology capabilities of the Chinese Ministry of State Security." "British academics have participated in projects funded by the China General Technology Research Institute, involving areas such as artificial intelligence, network security, covert communications and steganography (technology that hides secret information in documents and other carriers). Such activities provide support for the Chinese Ministry of State Security's espionage activities, thereby posing a threat to British national security."
British MI5 mentioned that many scholars and institutions often have good intentions when contacting the China Institute of General Technology and are unaware of the close links between the institution and the Ministry of State Security of China. However, MI5 also pointed out that if such contacts continue, the relevant personnel will face the risk of prosecution under the British National Security Act.
The law, passed in 2023, aims to give British authorities greater powers to combat foreign espionage and the actions of hostile countries.
The Chinese Embassy in the UK called these accusations "purely based on rumors and fabrications," and "urged the British intelligence agencies to stop willfully spreading rumors, sabotaging and disrupting Sino-British educational exchanges and scientific research cooperation," and said it had lodged stern representations with the British side.
Reuters pointed out that this is the latest in a series of accusations against China’s espionage activities, highlighting the tensions and contradictions between Britain’s security concerns and the British government’s promotion of relations with China.
In recent years, the relationship between the UK and China has become increasingly complex.
China is an important trading partner of the UK. On the one hand, the British government seeks to improve relations with China to promote economic and trade exchanges and approved China's plan to build its largest embassy in Europe in London; but on the other hand, the British government has repeatedly issued warnings about China's espionage activities and attempts to undermine the British democratic system.
Last year, MI5 Director Ken McCallum said that Chinese espionage activities constituted a daily national security threat, and accused Chinese spies of trying to trick British professionals into leaking information by publishing false recruitment advertisements.
The agency also issued a warning to British parliamentarians in November last year, saying that Chinese agents disguised themselves as headhunters and corporate representatives in an attempt to contact parliamentarians to collect intelligence and influence their activities.
In June this year, the security agencies of the "Five Eyes Alliance" (including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand) also issued a warning saying that Chinese spies were actively using online recruitment platforms to recruit people with access to sensitive information.
British Secretary of State for Security Affairs Dan Jarvis said that he has written to the heads of British universities to ensure that faculty and staff terminate any relationship with the China General Institute of Technology.
He said in a statement: "This warning exposes attempts by Chinese intelligence services to covertly exploit the expertise and research results of British academics, which undermines the national security of the UK and its allies."
He also stressed that "international cooperation is vital to ensuring the continued prosperity of British universities and research institutions, but we will take strong action to defend against the threats we face."
According to the Associated Press, Libby Hackett, chief executive of the Russell Group, which consists of 24 British research universities, said that these universities "take their national security responsibilities very seriously."
She said: "The pioneering research carried out by Russell Group universities is an extremely valuable asset to the UK, including research in areas of national strategic importance. International cooperation is of course vital, but we also know that our world-leading research capabilities can make the UK a coveted target for hostile forces."
