New Delhi: MI5, a domestic counter-intelligence and security agency, issued a security advisory, warning UK universities about a Chinese organisation that has been involved in funding academic research in the country on behalf of China’s Ministry of State Security.
MI5 instructed UK universities and academics to review and halt ongoing or planned collaborations with China Technology Research Institute (CGTRI), sometimes also known as the China Academy of General Technology (CAGT).
Failing to do so could ultimately lead to criminal charges for aiding a foreign state, they said.
What are MI5’s allegations?
The Chinese organisation, MI5 claims, has funded 100 or more academics at various universities across the UK, in return for access to the research. Funded projects included research on topics such as AI, cyber-security, covert communications systems and steganography. MI5 alleged that such research has found its way back to China’s intelligence services.
“This activity supports Ministry of State Security (MSS) espionage, which poses a threat to UK national security,” MI5 said. “UK academic institutions are strongly advised to immediately review any ongoing or planned collaboration with CGTRI. This is to ensure MSS derives no further benefit from UK universities or research institutions.”
Universities UK, which represents more than 140 institutions, said they took their responsibilities around research and national security very seriously. They were focusing on “supporting our universities as they assess any implications for existing or future partnerships”, they added.
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How has China responded?
A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in London hit back, saying, “The accusations made by the UK intelligence agency against the relevant Chinese entity are imaginary and purely fabricated.”
“Exchanges and collaboration between UK universities and China have always been conducted on a voluntary basis and in compliance with laws and regulations. Such exchanges and collaboration are mutually beneficial,” they added.
The Chinese Embassy also urged the UK intelligence authorities to stop spreading falsehoods and “undermining educational exchanges and research cooperation between China and the UK”.
(Edited by Saptak Datta)