LondonReuters\u00a0\u2014\u00a0\n <\/p>\n
\n Britain\u2019s MI5 spy agency issued an unprecedented alert on \u200bWednesday to warn that a Chinese organization was involved in funding academic research into topics such as AI on behalf \u200cof Beijing\u2019s state security service.\n <\/p>\n
\n In its \u201cEspionage Alert\u201d, MI5 said more than 100 UK-based academics had contributed to projects funded by the China General Technology Research Institute (CGTRI), which had \u201cvery strong ties\u201d to the Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS), Beijing\u2019s civilian intelligence service.\n <\/p>\n
\n \u201cMI5 has identified that the primary purpose of CGTRI is to fund academic research that directly \u200bimproves MSS technical capability for espionage,\u201d the alert said.\n <\/p>\n
\n \u201cUK academics have contributed to CGTRI-funded projects on topics including Artificial Intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, covert \u200bcommunications systems and steganography. This activity supports MSS espionage, which poses a threat to UK national security.\u201d\n <\/p>\n
\n Steganography is the \u2060practice of hiding information within messages or objects.\n <\/p>\n
\n The warning, which MI5 said was the first time it had independently published an alert publicly, is \u200bthe latest in a series of accusations concerning Chinese espionage activities, and highlights the tension between British security concerns and the government\u2019s moves to \u200bbuild ties with Beijing.\n <\/p>\n
\n China\u2019s embassy in Britain described the allegations as \u201cimaginary and purely fabricated\u201d.\n <\/p>\n
\n \u201cWe firmly oppose such baseless allegations and have lodged solemn representations with the UK side,\u201d an embassy spokesperson said in a statement.\n <\/p>\n
\n \u201cWe urge the UK intelligence authorities to stop spreading falsehoods and stop undermining educational exchanges and research cooperation between China and the UK.\u201d\n <\/p>\n
\n MI5 said many academics and institutions would have engaged in good faith with the CGTRI, which it said was sometimes \u200btranslated as the China Academy of General Technology (CAGT), without knowing of its close ties to the MSS.\n <\/p>\n
\n But it said those who continued to do so would now \u200crisk prosecution \u2060under Britain\u2019s National Security Act, which was passed in 2023 to give greater powers to target foreign spying and hostile state activities.\n <\/p>\n
\n Security minister Dan Jarvis said he had written to all university chiefs in Britain to ensure staff ended any relationship with the Chinese organization.\n <\/p>\n
\n \u201cThis alert exposes attempts by Chinese intelligence to covertly benefit from the expertise and research of our academics, undermining our national security, and that of our allies,\u201d he said in a \u200bstatement.\n <\/p>\n
\n \u201cInternational partnerships are vital to ensure \u200bour universities and research institutes \u2060continue to thrive, but we will take robust action to defend against the threats we face.\u201d\n <\/p>\n
\n Britain\u2019s relationship with China has become increasingly complicated in recent years.\n <\/p>\n
\n On the one hand, the British government has sought better relations with \u200bBeijing to improve trade ties and approved plans for China to build its latest embassy in Europe in London, but \u200bit has also \u2060repeatedly warned of Chinese spying efforts and attempts to undermine UK democracy.\n <\/p>\n