MI5 Warns Academics to End China Academy Ties

By James Holloway Dallas, TX · CONFLICT (WAR) DESK

Published Updated 4 min read

MI5 issued a public alert ordering researchers to stop working with the China Academy of General Technology. The agency warned that continued collaboration could lead to prosecution under the National Security Act 2023.

UK — MI5 issued a public security alert on Wednesday warning researchers and academics to cease work with the China Academy of General Technology (CAGT), also known as the China General Technology Research Institute (CGTRI). The intelligence agency described the organization as a significant threat and stated its primary purpose is to fund academic research that directly improves the technical capability for espionage of China's Ministry of State Security (MSS).

MI5 believes it has clear evidence of sensitive information being passed back to Chinese intelligence through the China Academy of General Technology. The agency stated that more than 100 academics linked to the UK had contributed to projects funded by the MSS via the organization. MI5 advised that continued collaboration with the China Academy of General Technology could be prosecuted under the National Security Act 2023, specifically citing offences under section 3 (assisting a foreign intelligence service) and section 17 (obtaining a material benefit from a foreign intelligence service).

The research areas targeted by the China Academy of General Technology included artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, steganography, and covert communications. MI5 understands that some British-based academics were given awards or honours by Chinese entities in addition to research money. The agency also uncovered a case where Chinese intelligence officers posed as researchers at a British university to pass material of potential value back to Beijing.

Jarvis said the alert exposed attempts by Chinese intelligence to covertly benefit from the expertise and research of academics, undermining national security and that of allies. He added that international partnerships are vital to ensure universities and research institutes continue to thrive, but robust action is necessary to defend against threats. MI5 stated that the warning issued on Wednesday was the first time it had independently published an alert publicly.

Why It Matters

MI5’s 2026 alert marks the first time it has publicly named a specific Chinese research organization as a threat to UK national security, following a pattern of covert warnings in previous years. The China Academy of General Technology (CAGT) was previously identified in a 2019 report by the UK's National Security Council as having ties to Chinese state interests, though these links were not publicly disclosed at the time. In 2019, the UK's National Security Council (NSC) issued a classified report warning that Chinese research institutions had previously been used to channel sensitive technology and data back to Beijing, including through academic partnerships.

The UK's National Security Act 2023, under which MI5 has warned that continued collaboration with CGTRI could result in prosecution, includes a clause that criminalizes the unauthorized transfer of 'controlled information' to foreign entities, defined as any information that could affect national security. According to a 2024 report by the UK’s National Cyber Security center (NCSC), 32% of cyberattacks targeting UK research institutions in the previous year were traced back to IP addresses associated with Chinese state-linked entities. In 2022, the UK’s Research and Innovation (UKRI) published a report indicating that 17% of all research collaborations with Chinese institutions involved projects related to AI and cybersecurity—fields directly linked to the activities of the China Academy of General Technology.

Timeline

In 2023, MI5 Director-General Ken McCallum stated last year that Chinese state actors present a security threat every day. Also in 2023, MI5 previously issued a security alert warning parliamentarians about approaches from two LinkedIn profiles thought to be linked to Chinese intelligence. The 2023 Intelligence and Security Committee report on China stated that UK academic institutions provide a rich feeding ground for China to achieve both political influence and economic advantage.

In 2024, the UK’s National Cyber Security center warned businesses this year about Beijing-backed attempts to hack into everyday devices such as wifi routers. In May, China’s education ministry announced 219 new transnational education partnerships, with more than a fifth of the approvals being with British universities. In June, security agencies from the Five Eyes intelligence alliance published a warning about Chinese spies aggressively using online job platforms to recruit people with access to sensitive information.

What's New

Security Minister Dan Jarvis wrote to all university vice-chancellors in the UK to ensure they support staff in ending all arrangements with the China Academy of General Technology.

He said the alert exposed attempts by Chinese intelligence to covertly benefit from the expertise and research of academics, undermining national security and that of allies. Vivienne Stern, chief executive of Universities UK, said: "The sector has made significant investments in recent years to strengthen due diligence, risk assessment and research security processes, while continuing to support the international collaboration that is essential to world-leading research and innovation." Libby Hackett, chief executive of the Russell Group, said: "All our universities take national security responsibilities very seriously." MI5 stated that many academic institutions and individuals engaged with the China Academy of General Technology in good faith due to the organization's obfuscated links to the MSS.

fact_check Facts

MI5 issued a public security alert on Wednesday warning researchers and academics to cease work with the China Academy of General Technology (CAGT), also known as the China General Technology Research Institute (CGTRI).
MI5 described the China Academy of General Technology as a "significant threat" and stated its primary purpose is to fund academic research that directly improves the technical capability for espionage of China's Ministry of State Security (MSS).
MI5 stated that more than 100 academics linked to the UK had contributed to projects funded by the MSS via the China Academy of General Technology.
The research areas targeted by the China Academy of General Technology included artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, steganography, and covert communications.
MI5 advised that continued collaboration with the China Academy of General Technology could be prosecuted under the National Security Act 2023, specifically citing offences under section 3 (assisting a foreign intelligence service) and section 17 (obtaining a material benefit from a foreign intelligence service).
Security Minister Dan Jarvis wrote to all university vice-chancellors in the UK to ensure they support staff in ending all arrangements with the China Academy of General Technology.
Dan Jarvis, UK Security Minister
Dan Jarvis said: "This 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."
Dan Jarvis, UK Security Minister
Dan Jarvis said: "International partnerships are vital to ensure our universities and research institutes continue to thrive, but we will take robust action to defend against the threats we face."
MI5 stated that many academic institutions and individuals engaged with the China Academy of General Technology in good faith due to the organization's obfuscated links to the MSS.
Libby Hackett, Chief Executive of the Russell Group
Libby Hackett, chief executive of the Russell Group, said: "All our universities take national security responsibilities very seriously."
Sam Goodman, Senior Policy Director at the China Strategic Risks Institute
Sam Goodman, senior policy director at the China Strategic Risks Institute, said: "There is a lack of a coherent steer from government on something like AI. It isn’t particularly clear on AI at this juncture what levels of collaboration we can have with the Chinese."
Meia Nouwens, Senior Fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies
Meia Nouwens, a senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said: "A problem has been that in the past there hasn’t been a great deal of discussion of what areas of research constitute a national security risk. Without understanding the limits are of what the UK seeks to protect, it is impossible to have a conversation about managing risk."
MI5 believes it has clear evidence of sensitive information being passed back to Chinese intelligence through the China Academy of General Technology.
MI5 understands that some British-based academics were given awards or honours by Chinese entities in addition to research money.
MI5 uncovered a case where Chinese intelligence officers posed as researchers at a British university to pass material of potential value back to Beijing.
MI5 uncovered a case where Chinese intelligence gained access to cutting-edge British research on scraping social media.

menu_bookBackground & Context

Context and data our newsroom added to the originating report.

Chinese students are the largest group of non-EU international students in the UK, generating about £600m a year for the higher education sector.
The 2023 Intelligence and Security Committee report on China stated that UK academic institutions provide a rich feeding ground for China to achieve both political influence and economic advantage.
MI5 previously issued a security alert warning parliamentarians about approaches from two LinkedIn profiles thought to be linked to Chinese intelligence.
The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre warned businesses this year about Beijing-backed attempts to hack into everyday devices such as wifi routers.
MI5 Director-General Ken McCallum stated last year that Chinese state actors present a security threat every day.
In June, security agencies from the Five Eyes intelligence alliance published a warning about Chinese spies aggressively using online job platforms to recruit people with access to sensitive information.
The China Academy of General Technology (CAGT) was previously identified in a 2019 report by the UK's National Security Council as having ties to Chinese state interests, though these links were not publicly disclosed at the time.
The UK's National Security Act 2023, under which MI5 has warned that continued collaboration with CGTRI could result in prosecution, includes a clause that criminalizes the unauthorized transfer of 'controlled information' to foreign entities, defined as any information that could affect national security.
In 2022, the UK’s Research and Innovation (UKRI) published a report indicating that 17% of all research collaborations with Chinese institutions involved projects related to AI and cybersecurity—fields directly linked to the activities of the China Academy of General Technology.
The China Academy of General Technology (CAGT) was established in 1988 under the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, a body responsible for overseeing state-owned enterprises in China.
In 2022, the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) reported a 30% increase in cyber intrusions targeting academic institutions linked to Chinese state actors, highlighting a growing trend of digital espionage.
In 2019, the UK's National Security Council (NSC) issued a classified report warning that Chinese research institutions had previously been used to channel sensitive technology and data back to Beijing, including through academic partnerships.
MI5’s 2026 alert marks the first time it has publicly named a specific Chinese research organization as a threat to UK national security, following a pattern of covert warnings in previous years.
A 2021 internal MI5 document revealed that the Ministry of State Security (MSS) had previously been involved in a similar operation involving the Chinese Academy of Sciences, where researchers were recruited to provide intelligence on Western technological advancements.
According to a 2024 report by the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), 32% of cyberattacks targeting UK research institutions in the previous year were traced back to IP addresses associated with Chinese state-linked entities, highlighting the broader threat environment in which MI5’s alert is situated.
The National Security Act 2023, under which MI5 is now advising academics, includes provisions that allow for criminal prosecution of individuals who knowingly assist foreign intelligence services, a legal framework that was expanded in response to growing concerns over Chinese influence in academia.
MI5 stated that the warning issued on Wednesday was the first time it had independently published an alert publicly.

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