A furious row has erupted after two top cabinet ministers backed plans for a Chinese “super” Embassy in east London, despite espionage fears from British intelligence sources.
Beijing’s hopes of setting up a new embassy in Tower Hamlets have appeared to win the approval of high-ranking Labour ministers.
China purchased the Royal Mint buildings, near the Tower of London and Britain’s financial centre, in 2018. It launched a controversial proposal to use them as its embassy which was initially rejected by the council in 2022.
Beijing resubmitted the plans in August 2024 without making any significant changes.
That is despite top intelligence sources raising the alarm over the site’s proximity to vital communications cables, which they have warned could be vulnerable to attack.
But the ministers reportedly told the planning inspectorate the Metropolitan Police have “withdrawn their objection” to the application as there is enough space for protesting outside the prospective embassy.
Critics have blasted the pair for showing support for Beijing’s plans, with one local councillor labelling their intervention“an extraordinary attempt to influence an independent inquiry”.
Other politicians, as well as residents and campaigners, have hit out at the plans over China’s exploitation of the Muslim Uyghur population in its Xinjang region.
Iain Duncan Smith, the former Conservative Party leader, has previously said: “America would never allow this to happen, and I don’t think any of our other allies would either.
“We’re very close to the US and share intelligence with them at a level which no other ally does.”
“The Americans’ reliance on GCHQ and our listening devices in the Middle East through gives us a very close relationship with the US, so we are a very important target for the Chinese.”
It is now up to Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Sectretary Angela Rayner to make the final decision in October.
She has been urged to consider that the huge site will be near the City of London’s financial centre and could be used for “electronic collection”, a former high-ranking MI6 officer told The i Paper.
A government spokesperson said: “National security is the first duty of government. It has been our core priority throughout this process. That is why the Foreign, Common Wealth and Development Office submitted written representations.”
A spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in London said: “Six years ago, the Chinese government purchased the Royal Mint Court, London for the use as the new Chinese embassy premises. The UK government had given its consent to this.Now we are in the process of applying for planning permission.
“The resubmitted planning application has taken into full consideration the UK’s planning policy and guidance as well as opinions of all relevant parties. This is a high-quality development scheme.”
