The UK’s domestic intelligence agency, MI5, has issued a rare public alert regarding espionage activities linked to Chinese funding of university research. It accuses China of using front companies and academic ties to gather intelligence, particularly in the fields of artificial intelligence and technology. More than 100 UK academics are reportedly connected to a Chinese institute that MI5 describes as directly aiding espionage efforts for Beijing. The agency has advised universities to sever ties with these Chinese entities, raising concerns over the implications for already cash-strapped institutions. Furthermore, MI5 warns that this situation could compromise sensitive British research and inadvertently assist Chinese intelligence operations.