Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, Jan. 16: The UK government is close to approving a controversial plan by China to build what would be the largest Chinese embassy in Europe. The proposed “mega” or “super” embassy would be located at Royal Mint Court, a historic site near the City of London’s financial district.
According to multiple reports, Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to give formal approval as early as this week, possibly by January 20, 2026. This would come just days before his planned visit to China, his first official bilateral trip to Beijing since becoming prime minister.
China bought the Royal Mint Court site in 2018 for around £225 million, with the aim of bringing all its diplomatic offices in London under one roof. However, the plan has faced strong opposition from the beginning. In December 2022, Tower Hamlets Council rejected the proposal, citing concerns about public safety, security risks, and the ability to manage protests around the site.
China resubmitted the same proposal in August 2024. This time, the UK government stepped in and took over the decision-making process, arguing that the project was of national importance. Since then, the plan has been delayed repeatedly due to legal challenges, political resistance, and warnings from security experts.
Despite these objections, reports now suggest that Starmer’s government is preparing to approve the project. The move has triggered criticism from across the political spectrum. Both Labour and Conservative MPs have warned that allowing such a large Chinese diplomatic complex in a sensitive part of London could pose risks to national security and damage public trust.
The government has insisted that the decision is part of a formal planning process and not a political choice. However, the timing, just ahead of Starmer’s China visit, has led to speculation that diplomatic relations with Beijing may have influenced the outcome.
Opposition to the embassy has been unusually broad. Labour MPs such as Sarah Champion, along with several Conservative politicians, have spoken out against it. They point to China’s record on spying, intimidation of critics, and pressure on overseas communities as reasons to block the plan.
Concerns have also been raised outside the UK. Lawmakers in the United States have expressed “deep concern” that the embassy’s size and location could threaten sensitive infrastructure and data linked to American companies and institutions in London. John Moolenaar, chair of the US House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, warned that approving the embassy could weaken data security and harm intelligence-sharing among Western allies.
Public opposition has been equally strong. Human rights groups, activists, and diaspora communities, including Tibetans, Hong Kongers, Uyghurs, and Taiwanese, have organised large protests against the project. They fear the embassy could be used to monitor, intimidate, or harass dissidents living in the UK. Over the past year, demonstrations near Royal Mint Court have drawn thousands of people, highlighting the depth of concern surrounding the proposed embassy.
