Political alarm over China's plans for a new 'mega embassy' near the Tower of London has been met with a notably calmer response from within the intelligence community, with MI5 said to be quietly welcoming the consolidation of Beijing's diplomatic presence in the capital.
The proposed complex at Royal Mint Court, expected to gain planning permission this month, would house more than 200 Chinese nationals, from kitchen porter to ambassador. Among them, as with the current embassy in Portland Place, would be a small number of undeclared officers from China's Ministry of State Security and military intelligence.
A former MI6 officer described these operatives as "radars" for identifying potential contacts, but argued that the embassy would be a "magnet for attention and surveillance," making serious espionage difficult. Consolidating seven separate sites into one would, officials argue, simplify MI5's task of monitoring Chinese intelligence activity across the UK.
The psychological dimension is also considered. British diplomats in Beijing and Moscow have long operated on the assumption they are under constant digital and physical surveillance. John Foreman, a former UK defence attaché to Moscow, described being followed on foot, in cars, and having listening devices directed at him in cafes, with the aim of undermining judgment and intimidating diplomats.
Critics, however, maintain that the sheer scale of the embassy poses a heightened risk. Luke de Pulford, executive director of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, warned that "more state employees from the People's Republic of China equals more Chinese interference," citing the US decision to close China's consulate in Houston in 2020 over allegations of espionage and coercion.
Additional concerns have been raised over heavily redacted floor plans, which a newspaper obtained in full, revealing a "hidden chamber" near high-speed internet cables. However, it is understood that the security services were fully aware of the plans as part of the planning process.
