UK Urges Universities to Sever Ties With Chinese Research Institute Accused of Espionage
Britain's security minister instructed academic institutions to end all arrangements with the China General Technology Research Institute, citing its alleged links to Chinese intelligence services.
The British government has directed U.K. universities to cease all collaborations with the China General Technology Research Institute, which the United Kingdom's domestic intelligence agency, MI5, has identified as a front for Chinese espionage.
Security Minister Dan Jarvis announced the directive, urging academics to "end all arrangements" with the institute. MI5 stated that over 100 academics affiliated with U.K. institutions have participated in projects secretly financed by Chinese intelligence through this institute. These projects reportedly involved advancements in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.
According to MI5, the China General Technology Research Institute maintains significant connections with China's Ministry of State Security and aims to fund research that enhances China's capacity for espionage. British intelligence officials have increasingly raised alarms about espionage threats emanating from China, a major trading partner for the U.K.
Jarvis characterized the MI5 alert as an exposure of covert attempts by Chinese intelligence to leverage the expertise of British academics, thereby compromising national security and that of allied nations. He confirmed that university leaders have been formally notified to ensure their staff comply with the directive, noting that continued collaboration with the institute could violate the National Security Act.