Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, Jan. 19: Hundreds of Tibetans, Hongkongers, Uyghurs, and other China-diaspora activists joined a major demonstration on Saturday outside the site of China’s proposed mega-embassy at Royal Mint Court in central London, raising renewed calls for the UK government to reject the controversial plan ahead of this week’s expected decision deadline.
The protest, according to reports, drew hundreds to possibly around a thousand demonstrators, echoing warnings that the sprawling diplomatic complex, which would be one of the largest Chinese embassies in the world, poses serious national security and human rights risks.
Protesters chanted slogans including “No to Chinese embassy”, “mega embassy, mega mistake” and “Free Hong Kong”, with many carrying flags and placards denouncing the project as a strategic threat rather than a conventional embassy.
The rally saw participation from prominent British political figures, including Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who reiterated her call for the government to oppose the development. She accused the ruling Labour government of being too soft on China and side-lining national security concerns ahead of a diplomatic visit to Beijing.
Protesters also held placards referencing national security concerns, such as “MI5 warned. Labour kneeled”, a nod to reports that the UK’s intelligence agencies had flagged potential risks associated with the planned site.
The demonstration took place just days before the UK government’s expected planning decision, now anticipated for 20 January 2026. The embassy project has been mired in controversy since China purchased the historic Royal Mint Court site for £255 million in 2018, repeatedly pushing its plans despite local resistance.
Activists argue that the location near key financial districts and communications infrastructure, combined with China’s record on transnational repression, makes the proposal dangerous, especially for vulnerable exile communities who fear being targeted or monitored.
Tibetan rights groups in the UK and beyond have been vocal in recent weeks, urging British authorities to reject the proposal on both security and human rights grounds. In a statement earlier this month, UK Tibet groups said allowing the mega-embassy to move forward would endanger not only national security but also exile communities, including Tibetans, Uyghurs, and Hongkongers, by giving Beijing a larger platform for intimidation and surveillance.
As the government prepares its final decision, protesters vowed to continue campaigning and to pursue legal challenges if necessary. Many emphasised that the embassy fight is part of a wider struggle against Beijing’s expanding reach and repression abroad.
