MI5 issues spy alert to UK universities over Chinese front co. stealing research

MI5 issues spy alert to UK universities over Chinese front co. stealing research(theguardian.com)

3 points by chrisjj 18 hours ago | 7 comments

bell-cot 17 hours ago |

While I'm connected neither to UK academia nor to UK counter-intel - the article feels like a wall of blather, written by spies to dim to realize that China could spin up a hundred new front companies in the time it takes them to type "CGTRI". Let alone consider that on many sensitive topics, accepting Chinese research funding might be the least bad option still available to the "sun set long, long ago" British Empire.

chrisjj 15 hours ago | |

> China could spin up a hundred new front companies in the time it takes them to type "CGTRI".

I'm guessing even dim academics might now be wary of a Chinese company having no provenance.

And definitely of 100.

bell-cot 11 hours ago | | |

Where it mattered, I'm guessing that Chinese intel is bright enough to "warm up" their fronts with a year or few of legit-looking activity.

And is there some reason for an operative courting western academics to mention more than the one or two fronts he's actively using? Blabbing that there's 100+ of 'em sounds like he's switch sides, and needs to be liquidated.

jjgreen 17 hours ago |

Sounds less of a threat than their Nazi machete-wielding agents

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/sep/30/mi5-issues-s...

chrisjj 15 hours ago | |

Now now. There was only one.

chrisjj 17 hours ago |

May we hope the only intelligence the Chinese will now lose is that from UK's least intelligent academics?