MI5 Raises Alarm Over China-Linked Research Involving More Than 100 UK Academics

Britain’s domestic intelligence agency, MI5, has raised concerns over research involving more than 100 academics linked to the United Kingdom, alleging that some of the projects were funded through an organisation connected to China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS).

The warning was issued in a Security Service Espionage Alert released on September 30, 2026.

MI5 identified the China General Technology Research Institute (CGTRI), also known as the China Academy of General Technology (CAGT), as an organisation it believes is being used to finance research capable of strengthening the technical capabilities of China’s intelligence service.

According to the agency, CGTRI funds research in areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, covert communications and steganography, a method of hiding information within another digital file or communication.

MI5 said more than 100 UK-linked academics have taken part in research projects funded through CGTRI. The agency noted that some researchers may not have been aware of the alleged connection between the funding organisation and Chinese intelligence authorities.

The intelligence service warned that such activity represents a potential national security concern for the UK.

“This activity supports MSS espionage, which poses a threat to U.K. national security,” MI5 said.

British universities and research institutions have been advised to examine both existing and proposed partnerships involving CGTRI.

MI5 also urged academic institutions to establish the origins of funding attached to research collaborations with Chinese organisations, particularly where sensitive technologies are involved.

The agency further warned that researchers, staff and institutions could face legal consequences under the National Security Act 2023 if their activities amount to providing material assistance to a foreign intelligence service in connection with UK-related operations.

China has strongly rejected the allegations.

The Chinese Embassy in Britain described the claims as “imaginary and purely fabricated” and said it had lodged formal objections with the British side.

An embassy spokesperson defended academic cooperation between China and the UK, saying such exchanges have been carried out voluntarily and in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.

The spokesperson also accused British intelligence authorities of spreading false information and called on them to stop actions that could undermine educational and scientific cooperation between the two countries.

The latest MI5 warning adds to existing concerns in Britain over alleged Chinese intelligence activity within academic institutions.

In 2025, the UK-China Transparency think tank reported allegations that some Chinese students studying at British universities had been pressured to monitor fellow students and discourage discussions involving subjects regarded as sensitive by Beijing.

Chinese authorities rejected those claims at the time, describing them as “groundless and absurd.”

UK-China Transparency has separately raised concerns about CGTRI, claiming that the organisation has personnel links to China’s University of International Relations, which the group says maintains close ties with the MSS.

The think tank said CGTRI’s areas of interest include cybersecurity, signals intelligence and AI-based technologies designed for strategic purposes.

It further alleged that some of the technologies and expertise associated with the organisation could potentially support cyber operations attributed to Chinese state agencies against British targets, including companies, universities and public infrastructure.

The dispute comes as governments and universities in Britain and other Western countries increasingly examine the security risks associated with international research partnerships, particularly in strategically important fields such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and advanced communications.