US EditionUK government approves Chinese ‘mega embassy’ in London
- On Jan 20, Local Government Secretary Steve Reed approved planning permission and listed-building consent for a huge Chinese embassy at Royal Mint Court, central London near the Tower of London.
- Since 2018, China’s government purchased Royal Mint Court, central London for 225 million pounds, and after Tower Hamlets Council refused permission in 2022, central UK government took control of the application.
- Intelligence chiefs said mitigations were developed for the embassy's 208 subterranean rooms near fibre‑optic cables linking Canary Wharf and the Square Mile, but no risk can be wholly eliminated.
- Declared final by ministers, the decision remains open to court review as local residents and judicial challengers say they will seek legal action, while the approval is expected to support Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's visit this month and expansion of the UK embassy in Beijing.
- Critics say the UK government has `capitulated to Chinese demands` as Prime Minister Keir Starmer aims to improve relations this month, despite security concerns, Dan Jarvis said.
187 Articles
187 Articles
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UK Approves Chinese Mega-Embassy in Central London
Royal Mint Court, the proposed site of the new Chinese embassy in London. Credit: Steve Cadman / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0 The UK has approved plans for a Chinese mega-embassy complex in central London, moving forward with a controversial project that has drawn criticism over national security concerns. The new diplomatic site, set to become the biggest Chinese embassy in Europe, will be located at Royal Mint Court, near the City of Londo…
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