The Security Service (MI5) by their nature are not given to making big public statements. From what I can gather their preferred modus operandi is to have ‘quiet words’ with companies which may be the target of foreign intelligence agencies.
However they’ve gone out and made a public statement about potential links between a Chinese technology research institute and Chinese state intelligence.
MI5 said in their statement:
“On 30 September 2026, MI5 issued a Security Service Espionage Alert stating that the primary purpose of the China General Technology Research Institute (CGTRI) 中国通用技术研究院 is to fund research that directly improves Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS) technical capability for espionage. 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.
The alert advises UK academic institutions to immediately review any ongoing or planned collaboration with CGTRI and advises academics to establish the ultimate funding source when conducting any research collaboration with Chinese institutions to ensure CGTRI are not involved.
It puts the fact that CGTRI has very strong ties to MSS in the public domain and states that academic institutions, staff and researchers should ensure they are aware of the National Security Act 2023. Any institution or individual continuing to conduct research ultimately funded by CGTRI should take their own independent legal advice. “
MI5 must be extremely worried to go so public on this issue.
Link
Interesting, but a bit pointless.
All Chinese companies are required by Chinese law to give their data to the Chinese government on request.
So in any collaboration with the Chinese, one should reckon on the results ending up in Chinese government hands.
For this reason there are serious worries about Chinese EVs (amongst the few security conscious in the UK) which could easily be co-opted by the Chinese state to send their telemetry. If this was done selectively, for example using GPS data to find out which cars were on “sensitive” sites, and then all images from the cars’ cameras were transferred this could provide useful ELINT to China.
I agree. We all know about the strong links between Chinese companies and Chinese state security. Maybe British companies and academics have been getting lax about linking with Chinese companies and this is an anti complacency warning by MI5? Or maybe there has been a slew of standard individual export licence refusals for dual use goods for China that has necessitated a public statement like this to save wasted licence applications?
Agree also on Chinese EV’s. I believe that Israel forbids soldiers in some units from bringing Chinese EV’s onto certain sites but I’m unaware if UK MOD takes a similar view.