MI5 officers have told the House of Commons speaker that they are 'very relaxed' about the proposed Chinese super-embassy in London, according to sources. The comments, made during a private meeting with Lindsay Hoyle this summer, suggest the security service believes any espionage risks from the 20,000 sq metre development near Tower Bridge can be managed.
The Security Service's director general, Ken McCallum, indicated in October that the agency had experience dealing with national security risks from foreign embassies. He said, 'MI5 has more than a century of experience of dealing with the national security risks, which do flow from the presence of foreign embassies on British soil.'
Prime Minister Keir Starmer is reportedly planning to visit China in January or February next year, but insiders say the trip depends on the embassy being approved by 10 December. Ministers have already delayed the decision twice, drawing criticism from Beijing, which has demanded the UK 'immediately fulfil its obligations and honour its commitments.'
Former intelligence officials have weighed in on the security concerns. Nigel Inkster, a former assistant chief of MI6, argued that the size of the embassy is immaterial, noting that monitoring staff is easier when they are in one location. He added that many countries now avoid spying from diplomatic outposts due to advanced surveillance technologies.
The delays have also affected UK diplomatic projects. China is blocking renovation works at the British embassy in Beijing pending a decision on the London development. A letter from 2018, in which then-foreign secretary Boris Johnson committed to ensuring both projects develop alongside each other, has been cited by officials.
