Why are our universities still cosy with China?

It sounds like something from a spy novel: scientists linked to the Chinese military complex working at UK universities on sensitive technologies, which can be used for weapons development by the Chinese Communist party.

Except, this is no novel. This is very much reality. New research uncovered by Civitas has revealed that there are at least 60 individuals from tech and defence conglomerates in China, in addition to military-affiliated defence universities, who have either worked alongside UK universities or who are even formally associated with them.

This figure includes at least two active members of the Chinese army (the People’s Liberation Army) who are still working at two separate British campuses, alongside many others who were previously listed at army organisations.

These scientists, engineers, professors, and post-graduate researchers were all involved in research collaborations with some of the UK’s leading universities, and have all worked in the past year.