UK MI5 advises academic institutions to review cooperation with Chinese CGTRI over espionage suspicion

News Tank Academic - Paris - News #455542 - Published on 01/10/26 at 11:56

The UK Security Service Military Intelligence Section 5 (MI5) has issued a warning to domestic academic institutions over cooperation with the China General Technology Research Institute (CGTRI), saying it funds research that directly improves the Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS) technical capability for espionage.

MI5 issued this Security Service Espionage Alert on 30/09/2026. The UK security agency stated that the CGTRI funds academic research in China on topics including AI and cybersecurity.

"More than 100 UK-linked academics have contributed to research projects funded by MSS via CGTRI. In some cases, academics may not be aware that CGTRI is funding the Chinese research project they are contributing to," MI5 warned.

Contribution to CGTRI-funded projects "supports MSS…


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