China’s hugely-controversial super-embassy in London is finally confirmed to be going ahead despite widespread security concerns.
The plans to convert the former Royal Mint in Tower Hamlets, near top financial centres and critical communication cables, have been green-lit today.
It follows an intense diplomatic battle beginning in 2022, with the decision changing hands from Tower Hamlets council to multiple government ministers.
The building would be China’s largest ever in Europe, sitting at around 22,000 square metres, with local residents highly concerned about espionage.
China has been accused of placing pressure on Keir Starmer to say yes to their plans, with the power supply of the British embassy in Beijing reportedly being shut off.
Plans for the building also remained partially redacted for some time, which only heightened espionage concerns.
Last week The Telegraph published the plans in full for the first time, which included a concealed chamber running along the outer wall of a room.
It would also be placed close to fibre optic cables transmitting email and messaging data for millions of people.
Leader of a campaign against controversial plans to build a ‘mega embassy’ for China opposite Tower Bridge said the ‘battle will go on’ as he plans to launch a judicial review of the decision to give it the green light.
Mark lives in flats next to the proposed embassy site which are on land which will be owned by the Chinese under the deal.
The residents fear that the embassy will cover the area with CCTV which means they will lose their privacy and fear they may lose their homes if the Chinese want to redevelop.
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He told Metro: ‘We think this is a terrible decision which we will fight. We have a fundraiser which is collecting money and we have had contributions from around the world, as far away as Australia. We demand a judicial review and will not stop until this plan is kicked out.’
Tower Hamlets Council first rejected the proposal in 2022, but cabinet ministers have waded in to push for China to be given the green light.
Last year MI5 were reportedly worried about the building’s close proximity to major communication cables, leaving them susceptible to an attack.
Security expert Will Geddes told Metro: ‘A super-embassy would become the mothership of all lucrative communication.
‘The surveillance capabilities will be much greater, but being next to these important cables raises an even greater risk.’
He explained the China will ‘easily’ be intercept the wires by hot tapping.
‘Or they can just set up their own, which we in turn would struggle to intercept,’ Will said.
But MI5 and MI6 have reportedly raised no formal objections to the new embassy.
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