On Wednesday, MI5 issued a security alert warning researchers and academics to stop work with the China Academy of General Technology (CAGT), describing the organisation as a significant threat. The alert follows a broader concern about Beijing’s influence in the UK and could affect cooperation at a time when the bilateral relationship is experiencing a revival.
CAGT, also known as the China General Technology Research Institute, is alleged to pay UK scholars in fields such as artificial intelligence and cybersecurity to produce research that directly enhances the technical capabilities of China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS), the country’s intelligence agency.
The warning references the 2023 National Security Act, which makes it an offence to assist a foreign intelligence service. It is expected to chill UK universities, many of which rely on Chinese funding and collaboration. In 2023, Chinese students contributed about £600 million annually to the higher‑education sector, and the UK is a top partner for China’s transnational education programmes.
Experts say the UK should clarify which research areas pose dual‑use risks and provide clearer guidance to academics. “It is far more important to consider which technologies can be cooperated with China and which cannot,” said Charles Parton of the Royal United Services Institute. “Without clear limits, researchers cannot manage risk effectively.”
