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Britain gives green light to China's giant embassy in London. Controversy erupts

2026-01-20 23:39:45Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Britain gives green light to China's giant embassy in London. Controversy
Britain gives green light to China's giant embassy in London

The British government has approved the construction of a giant new Chinese embassy near the Tower of London, after intelligence services assured authorities that the risks to national security could be managed.

The decision was taken by the communities secretary, Steve Reed, and paves the way for a visit by Prime Minister Keir Starmer to Beijing in the coming weeks.

According to Reed, broader political or ethical concerns regarding China cannot be taken into account in the urban planning process, The Guardian reports.

The decision has sparked strong political opposition. MPs from across the political spectrum have expressed concerns, particularly over the proximity to data cables connecting the City of London.

However, MI5, MI6, the Home Office and the Foreign Office have not identified specific risks that would justify blocking the project.

In a joint letter, MI5 director Ken McCallum and GCHQ chief Anne Keast-Butler acknowledged that "it is not realistic to eliminate every potential risk" but stressed that a "professional and proportionate" package of security measures had been prepared.

However, the parliamentary Committee on Intelligence and Security has criticized the process.

Its chairman, Lord Beamish, has stated that the reports were partial and not properly coordinated on such a sensitive issue, warning that they will approach the Prime Minister for clarification.

The new embassy is expected to be the largest in Europe, with over 200 employees.

Britain gives green light to China's giant embassy in London. Controversy

Critics warn it could become a hub for espionage and pressure on Chinese dissidents, including activists from Hong Kong. The Conservative opposition has called the decision a "shameful surrender", while former leader Iain Duncan Smith has described it as an ignoring of human rights abuses by the Chinese Communist Party.

On the other hand, Reed noted that China has agreed to close seven existing diplomatic missions and concentrate them in a single location, which MI5 says will make monitoring easier. Any illegal activity, he added, will be dealt with through legal mechanisms rather than through the planning system.

Local residents have warned that they will seek a judicial review of the decision, if they manage to raise the necessary funds for legal representation.

The decision is expected to ease London-Beijing relations ahead of Starmer's visit to China at the end of January.

The embassy issue has been a priority for Beijing and was raised directly by President Xi Jinping in his first telephone conversation with the British Prime Minister in August 2024.


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