China Research Group

In April 2020, Tom Tugendhat and Neil O'Brien founded the China Research Group, modelled on the European Research Group.^[1] The group was formally incorporated on 15 May 2020.^[2] The group was formed to gain a "better understanding of China's economic ambitions and global role". This was to include Huawei's role in the UK's 5G network, China's COVID-19 disinformation campaign, and its foreign policy, in particular its relations with poorer regions of the world.^[3][4] Tugendhat served as the group's first director. On 26 March 2021, the group was sanctioned by the Chinese government.^[5] After Tugendhat was appointed as security minister in September 2022, Christopher Cash became the director of the CRG. In March 2023, Cash, along with researcher Christopher Berry, were arrested on suspicions of spying for China.^[6] The group dissolved on 9 September 2025.^[2]