UK approves Chinese embassy in London despite fears over security, protests

Eight years after Beijing purchased the site, the British government approved the construction of the largest embassy in Europe in London.

Planning permission was granted by Housing Minister Steve Reed on Tuesday, one day before Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s anticipated visit to China later this month, the first visit by a British leader since 2018.

Residents, lawmakers, and Hong Kong pro-democracy campaigners in the United Kingdom have been against China’s plans to build a new embassy on the site of the two-century-old Royal Mint Court near the Tower of London for three years.

Local residents fear the embassy could pose a security risk to them and stoke large demonstrations, while pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong are concerned about it. They also fear Beijing might detain and even detain them.

Due to concerns that the site could be used as a spying base, politicians in Britain and the United States have warned the government against allowing China to construct the embassy there.

Residents’ claims that they planned to challenge the approval in court could still cause the future embassy to face legal challenges.

In the event of a successful challenge in court, Reed claimed the decision was final.

According to a government spokesman, intelligence agencies had contributed to the creation of a “range of measures” to manage any risks.

China will continue to threaten national security, according to security minister Dan Jarvis, who added that despite “detailed consideration of all potential risks … I can be assured that the UK’s national security is protected.”

The local council rejected the Chinese government’s request for planning permission to construct the new embassy there in 2022 due to safety and security concerns. The Chinese government purchased the Royal Mint Court in 2018.

Starmer was requested by Chinese President Xi Jinping last year to intervene.

In recent months, Starmer’s government had repeatedly delayed its decision in response to numerous allegations of political interference and alleged Chinese spying.

Legislators were warned in a November alert by the domestic intelligence agency MI5 that Chinese agents were using LinkedIn and cover companies to target and cultivate their profiles.

Beijing has vehemently refuted those claims, calling them “pure fabrication and malicious slander.”