MI5 warns UK academics to cut ties with Chinese group over alleged spying

UK intelligence agency accuses Chinese institute of funding academic research to strengthen Beijing’s espionage capability.Published On 30 Sep 202630 Sep 2026Britain’s domestic intelligence agency has told academics to stop working with a Chinese organisation funding research in United Kingdom universities, accusing it of having “very strong ties” with China’s spy agency.In a rare public espionage alert on Wednesday, MI5 alleged the ⁠⁠”primary purpose” of the China General Technology Research Institute (CGTRI) is to finance academic work that improves the espionage capability of the Ministry of State Security (MSS), the Chinese intelligence agency.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Approval for China’s mega embassy in London was lawful, UK court ruleslist 2 of 3Why is the UK’s Keir Starmer in China and what does he want to achieve?list 3 of 3UK court convicts two men for spying for Hong Kong, Chinaend of listThere was no immediate response from Beijing, which has previously strongly denied such accusations.MI5 said the CGTRI targeted more than 100 UK-based academics working in areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, covert communications systems and stegano...