Chinese Mega Embassy in London Approved by UK Government
The UK has approved plans for a new Chinese mega-embassy in central London, despite opponents warning it could be used as a base for spying and pose security risks.
Beijing bought the site at Royal Mint Court near the Tower of London in 2018 for £225m, and at 20,000 square metres, it would be the biggest embassy of its kind in Europe.
The Conservatives have called the decision an “act of cowardice”, and a “shameful super embassy surrender”, while the Liberal Democrats say this is Keir Starmer’s “biggest mistake yet”. Reform UK says it would “never have approved” the embassy, calling it a security threat.
The head of MI5 says in a letter that the national security threat cannot be wholly eliminated, but he adds the assessment to mitigate risk has been “expert, professional and proportionate”.
A government spokesman says intelligence agencies had been involved throughout, with an “extensive range of measures” to “manage any risks”.
The decision, which has been repeatedly delayed, was always going to be met with criticism when it was delivered, and the embassy’s approval lays the ground for engagement with China, says the BBC’s Damian Grammaticas.
The BBC news service is reporting that this decision is a hugely sensitive one. Whenever it was delivered it was always going to be met with criticism from all sides, and accusations that the government was bending too far to accommodate China.
A final decision was delayed several times last year, ostensibly because the government was seeking more information.
But, at the time controversies over Chinese spying in the UK and targeting of dissidents had already raised the political temperature, so delaying was also politically expedient.
For China securing permission was its top priority in relations with the UK. Having a huge and prominent embassy in a key location would be a symbol of China’s diplomatic heft.
From the UK’s perspective, with Sir Keir Starmer expected to visit Beijing in the near future, the approval lays the groundwork for engagement China on a whole range of issues, from trade to security and human rights.
The government’s view is that does not mean the UK is “soft” on China in any way, but dealing, pragmatically with a major power that cannot be ignored. The security risks have been considered and deemed not serious enough to veto the plan.
As for how it may be taken by the US. So far it’s been voices in Congress, critics of China, who have voiced opposition to the mega embassy.
Downing Street may be waiting to see if President Trump feels the need to weigh in on this.