US Congressional Committee Raises Alarm on ‘Serious’ Security Threats Posed by China’s Massive Embassy in London
The Select Committee on the CCP has raised concerns about the surveillance and interference risks posed by the site to sensitive infrastructure, including London’s financial sector.
A committee of the U.S. House of Representatives has issued a warning regarding China’s plan to construct a large embassy in London, citing “significant security concerns.”
“The PRC’s mega-embassy in the UK raises significant security concerns: from interference and surveillance to risks for sensitive infrastructure like London’s financial services,” the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party wrote on X on Feb. 19.
“We must work to urgently address this issue and work with our allies to protect national security.”
Mega-Embassy
The Chinese regime purchased the historic Royal Mint Court near the Tower of London in 2018 for 255 million pounds ($326 million) with the intention of converting it into a 700,000-square-foot embassy.
The proposed embassy would be 10 times larger than China’s current embassy at Portland Place in London and almost double the size of the Chinese Embassy in Washington.
The plan entails a mix of renovation and new construction to create a complex comprising a main embassy building, a visa center, a “cultural exchange building,” and 225 residential units for embassy staff and visitors.
In January, British foreign and interior ministers expressed support for China’s contentious plans.
Related Stories
Foreign Minister David Lammy and Interior Minister Yvette Cooper sent a joint letter to the planning inquiry emphasizing “the importance of countries having functioning diplomatic premises in each other’s capitals.”
British Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer faced criticism for his meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Nov. 18, where he discussed the embassy without demanding the release of Jimmy Lai, a pro-democracy media mogul and British national imprisoned in Hong Kong.
Rejected
On Dec. 9, 2024, the Tower Hamlets council in London rejected Beijing’s proposal for a new embassy for the second time.
The council’s Strategic Development Committee unanimously voted to reject the planning application, citing concerns about protest-related issues like traffic congestion, impact on local tourism, and policing.
During the consultation process, local residents opposing the plan expressed worries about the embassy’s potential impact on local heritage sites and communities, fearing the compound could serve as a “secret police station.”
The final decision on the new application lies with the UK government after Beijing’s request.
In a previous email to The Epoch Times, the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government declined to comment while the case is under review.
Threat
On Oct. 8, 2024, MI5 Director General Ken McCallum delivered a rare public speech discussing the major national security threats to the UK.
McCallum highlighted a 48% increase in state threat investigations due to threats from autocratic regimes, including Russia, Iran, and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
He noted the complex relationship with China, recognizing the CCP as a threat while also aiming to maintain business ties with the country.
MI5’s efforts to counter the CCP threat involve disrupting attempts to harm or coerce individuals, combating CCP-backed cyberattacks and information theft, and addressing threats to democracy, McCallum explained.
These operations require cooperation with businesses, universities, and organizations to manage risks while engaging with China, he added.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office have been contacted for comment.
Lily Zhou, Cindy Li, Catherine Yang, and Reuters contributed to this report.
