The British government on the 20th of January approved the controversial Chinese embassy project in central London, which has sparked widespread debate over security, according to Politico.
British Housing Secretary Steve Reed has given the green light to the construction of a 20,000-square-meter complex near the Tower of London, despite objections from lawmakers. Reed said in a statement that the quasi-judicial decision was made openly and based on evidence and planning regulations. The minister added that this is a final decision unless it is challenged in court.
Beijing bought the plot of land in 2018, and it is expected to house China’s largest embassy in Europe. A number of concerns have arisen during the planning process, including concerns about the large complex’s proximity to cables used to transmit information to London’s financial district.
Beijing’s reluctance to fully disclose the interior layout to the authorities has also been met with discontent.
The Housing Office’s statement in support said there was no indication that the approved layout would in any way interfere with the operation of the cables. The ministry added that objections raised by the British Foreign Office and the Home Office had been resolved.
The decision was originally due to be made on the 9th of September, 2025, but was postponed after the government took over. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman warned in October that the British would face consequences if the embassy project was rejected.
Giving the green light to the project is expected to provoke a negative reaction from some MPs, including the Prime Minister’s Labour Party. Nine Labour MPs sent a letter to Reed in early January calling for the Chinese project to be rejected, saying it would lead to increased intimidation of dissidents and warning that there were significant and unresolved security threats.
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