Plans for Chinese Mega-Embassy in London Spark Protests, National Security Concerns

[Social Media]

 

Thousands of demonstrators, including prominent politicians, gathered in east London on Saturday to protest against plans for a massive new Chinese embassy, which critics warn poses a serious threat to national security.  

Feb 8: the “Say no to 🇨🇳 super-embassy” rally at Royal Mint Court, London… (video: @lukedepulford)

🇬🇧 Keir Starmer’s government is ready to give it the green light — a shameful kowtow to Beijing. https://t.co/KjKs3yS51E pic.twitter.com/eCGYmMwX2o

— Byron Wan (@Byron_Wan) February 8, 2025

 

If approved, the proposed diplomatic complex at the former Royal Mint Court would be ten times larger than China’s current embassy and become the country’s biggest diplomatic mission in Europe. The site, purchased for over £255 million in 2018, would house offices, 225 residential units, and a “cultural exchange” center.  

 

Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, was among those leading the opposition. “We do not want this great historic building behind us, the Royal Mint, to become a mega embassy of the Chinese Communist Party,” he declared. “This is the wrong site. It is the wrong process and it is wrong for the national security of our country.”  

 

Jenrick cited security concerns raised by intelligence agencies, including MI5. “Don’t take it from me. Take it from the police and our security services. Take it from Ken McCallum, who said himself that the number one espionage threat to our country is China,” he said. “Why, when you have China stealing our intellectual property, spying on members of our government, sanctioning MPs, and intimidating British citizens—why would we allow them to have the biggest mega-embassy and spy headquarters in Europe? No self-respecting country would do that. We have to stand against it.”  

 

China initially submitted its embassy plans in 2022, but Tower Hamlets borough council rejected the proposal. Speculation suggested that the Conservative government at the time would have supported the decision had China appealed. However, just weeks after the Labour Party’s general election victory, Beijing resubmitted its largely unchanged plans.  

 

Tom Tugendhat, the shadow security minister, echoed Jenrick’s concerns, arguing that the embassy represents an extension of China’s authoritarian influence. “This protest is not about bricks and mortar. This protest is not about our relationship with the Chinese people we’re proud to call friends,” he said. “This protest is about the CCP. It is about the spread of oppression and silence and fear. It is about the hatred that Xi Jinping and his Marxist nationalist ideology have spread in China. And we will not allow it to spread here in London.”  

 

The demonstration saw around 2,000 protesters chanting “Fight for freedom, stand with Hong Kong” and “Mega embassy, mega no.” Many had traveled from across the UK, arriving on coaches from Scotland, Liverpool, Reading, and Manchester. Police clashed with masked demonstrators as tensions escalated, with officers forced to retreat as protesters linked arms and moved aggressively toward them.  

 

Several senior political figures joined the protest, including Sir Iain Duncan Smith, the former Conservative Party leader, and Blair McDougall, Labour MP for East Renfrewshire.  

 

Despite the widespread opposition, Beijing has found support within the UK government. The embassy application was reportedly a topic of discussion between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during a recent phone call. Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper appeared to back the project in a joint letter to the Planning Inspectorate last month. Crucially, they revealed that the Metropolitan Police had withdrawn its previous objections—greatly improving Beijing’s chances of securing planning approval.  

 

UK foreign secretary David Lammy and home secretary Yvette Cooper have intervened on China’s planning application for an enormous new London embassy, signalling their support while outlining conditions for the proposed site.  In a joint letter to the Planning Inspectorate for England on Jan 14, Lammy and Cooper stressed the “importance of countries having functioning diplomatic premises in each other’s capitals”. 

 

While the final decision remains pending, the strong public backlash suggests that the battle over the proposed Chinese mega-embassy is far from over.

 

Based on a report by Daily Telegraph | Financial Times 2025-02-10

 

 

[Tailwagsdog]

A mega fortress for communist Chinese foot soldiers, spies & Little Pinks. Visa processing is all computerized nowadays, no need for all those communist infiltrators.

[digger70]

Plans for Chinese Mega-Embassy in London Spark Protests, National Security Concerns

 

9 hours ago, Social Media said:

The site, purchased for over £255 million in 2018, would house offices, 225 residential units, and a “cultural exchange” center.  

What Imbecile let them purchase the land in the first place ,,,,, Corruption.  Greed .