The UK government has approved plans for a vast new Chinese embassy in central London, brushing aside warnings from critics who fear the site could be exploited for espionage and pose serious national security risks.
Ministers said Britain’s intelligence agencies were closely involved throughout the planning process and concluded that consolidating China’s diplomatic operations into a single, purpose-built complex would deliver “clear security advantages.”
The long-delayed decision placed the government in a delicate position, as it seeks to deepen economic and diplomatic ties with Beijing while managing growing concerns over China’s intelligence activities and treatment of dissidents abroad.
The approval comes as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is expected to visit Beijing early this year, becoming the first UK leader to do so since 2018 — a signal of Labour’s intent to reset relations with China.
In a formal decision letter, the Department for Housing confirmed that Housing Secretary Steve Reed had authorised the development at Royal Mint Court, near the City of London, subject to a number of conditions.
The site’s proximity to fibre-optic cables carrying vast volumes of sensitive financial and communications data had raised alarms among opponents, who warned the embassy could be used to infiltrate the UK’s financial system. However, the department said there was no evidence the embassy would interfere with the cables, noting that no national security bodies — including the Home Office or Foreign Office — objected on that basis.
In a joint letter addressing the proposal, MI5 Director General Sir Ken McCallum and GCHQ Director Anne Keast-Butler acknowledged that it was “not realistic” to eliminate every conceivable risk. Nevertheless, they said a “proportionate” and comprehensive package of security mitigations had been developed for the site.
A government spokesperson emphasised that the establishment of embassies is a routine feature of international relations.
“National security is our first duty,” the spokesperson said. “Our intelligence agencies have been involved throughout, and extensive measures are in place to manage any potential risks.”
Despite this, opposition has been fierce. Local residents are planning a legal challenge, while opposition parties — and some Labour MPs — have urged the government to block the project.
Conservative shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel accused Sir Keir Starmer of “selling off our national security to the Chinese Communist Party in a shameful super-embassy surrender.”
Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesperson Calum Miller warned the decision would “amplify China’s surveillance capabilities in the UK” and jeopardise the safety of sensitive data and Hong Kong dissidents living in Britain.
Reform UK described the approval as a “serious threat to national security” and accused the Labour government of attempting to “cosy up to the Chinese Communist Party.”
Spanning 20,000 square metres, the new embassy would be the largest Chinese diplomatic mission in Europe. China purchased the Royal Mint Court site for £255 million in 2018, and securing approval has long been a priority for Beijing.
Tower Hamlets Council initially rejected the plans in 2022 on safety grounds, but after China resubmitted its application in 2024, the government assumed control of the decision-making process.
The approval also comes amid a diplomatic standoff of sorts: the UK is still awaiting Chinese approval for its own £100 million redevelopment of the British embassy in Beijing. Blocking China’s project would have risked further straining relations.
Since coming to power, Labour has pursued closer trade and investment links with China, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves and other senior ministers visiting the country.
Critics, however, argue that China’s record on espionage, cyber-security, and intimidation of overseas dissidents demands a far more cautious approach.
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