Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment his Department has made of further access to MoD establishments, assets and personnel by Chinese foreign students enrolled on MoD courses beyond the scope of that course since 2010.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) recognises that Defence establishments, assets and personnel are attractive targets for foreign intelligence services and takes the threat they pose extremely seriously. This is reflected in the establishment of the Defence Counter-Intelligence Unit in December 2025 which seeks to cohere and strengthen the UK’s counter-intelligence capabilities. All MOD courses are delivered in line with Government security classification standards and nationality requirements to ensure the appropriate protective measures are in place. It is not Government policy to comment on specific intelligence matters.