MI5 Issues Espionage Alert Over Chinese Institute Funding UK AI Research
China rejects the allegations as fabricated; over 100 UK academics were involved.
The UK's domestic intelligence agency MI5 has accused a Chinese academic organisation of using research funding to support espionage capabilities, warning that projects involving artificial intelligence and other technologies pose a national security threat. In an alert issued on Wednesday, MI5 said the China General Technology Research Institute (CGTRI) has “very strong ties” to China's civilian intelligence and security service.
MI5 said it had identified more than 100 UK academics who had contributed to CGTRI-funded projects involving artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, covert communications systems and steganography. The agency alleged that the institute's primary purpose was to fund academic research that directly improves the technical capabilities of China's Ministry of State Security for espionage. It said the activity represented a threat to UK national security.
The intelligence agency urged British academics to sever ties with CGTRI and withdraw from projects associated with the organisation. MI5 said the warning was the first publicly issued alert of its kind that it had independently released. The move comes as British authorities continue to examine potential Chinese intelligence activity involving research, technology and political institutions.
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China rejected the allegations. A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in the UK described the claims as “fabricated” and “false” and said Beijing had lodged formal representations with the British side. The spokesperson urged UK intelligence authorities to stop what China called the spread of false allegations and warned against undermining educational exchanges and research cooperation between the two countries.
The warning comes amid several recent allegations involving suspected Chinese espionage in Britain. In March, British police arrested three men, including the husband of a Labour Party MP, on suspicion of assisting China's foreign intelligence service; all three denied the allegations. MI5 had also warned British lawmakers last year about alleged Chinese-backed attempts to target them online.
The latest alert highlights the tension between Britain's national security concerns and its efforts to maintain and develop relations with China. A proposed new Chinese embassy in London faced delays earlier this year amid concerns over potential espionage risks. MI5's warning now places academic research and technology cooperation, particularly in areas such as AI and cybersecurity, under additional scrutiny as British authorities assess potential security risks.
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