Cabinet minister Kemi Badenoch has confronted Chinese officials following a startling security breach that saw Beijing's personnel attempting to block British civil servants from entering their own government building.
The extraordinary incident occurred during a diplomatic meeting at 70 Whitehall, just moments from the Prime Minister's Downing Street residence, when Chinese security staff positioned themselves to prevent UK officials from accessing the room where discussions were scheduled to take place.
Confrontation at the Heart of Government
According to sources familiar with the event, the situation escalated to the point where British officials were forced to physically intervene, insisting that Chinese security personnel step aside to allow the meeting to proceed in a UK government building.
The Business Secretary has since raised the matter directly with Chinese counterparts, demanding an explanation for what government insiders have described as an unacceptable breach of diplomatic protocol.
Growing Tensions in UK-China Relations
This security confrontation comes amid increasingly strained relations between London and Beijing, with the UK government recently adopting a more assertive stance toward Chinese activities perceived as threatening national security.
Just last month, Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden identified China as representing an "epoch-defining challenge" to the UK, highlighting concerns over cyber attacks and espionage activities.
Official Response and Diplomatic Fallout
A government spokesperson confirmed the incident, stating: "We expect all countries to respect the governance and procedures of the UK." The statement emphasized that while the government maintains a working relationship with China, it remains clear-eyed about systemic challenges posed by the Beijing regime.
The Foreign Office has been briefed on the confrontation, though officials have stopped short of formally labelling the incident a diplomatic breach. However, the event has raised serious questions about Chinese conduct on British soil and prompted reviews of security protocols for future high-level meetings.
