The UK government, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, is facing intense pressure to block controversial plans for a vast new Chinese embassy complex in the heart of London, with critics branding it a potential national security threat.
Security Fears Over 'Hidden' Basement Complex
At the centre of the row are detailed plans, leaked this week, which reveal the proposed diplomatic facility would include a staggering 208 rooms in its basement. The site is situated just yards from critical communication cables that serve the City of London. Cross-party MPs have expressed grave concerns that this underground space could be used for espionage activities, particularly given heightened geopolitical tensions.
Labour's Sarah Champion, who chairs the International Development Agency, delivered a stark warning in the Commons. "Every security briefing I have identifies China as a hostile state to the UK," she stated. "I am in no doubt that this mega embassy should not be allowed to go ahead." She accused China of "terrorising" people, including MPs, both overseas and within the UK, and urged the government: "I want my government to stand up to bullies, not reward them."
Cross-Party Calls for Rejection
The opposition has been equally vocal. Conservative shadow minister Alicia Kearns warned the Commons that the embassy's proximity to vital data cables presented a severe risk. She argued these cables carry millions of Britons' emails and financial data, and access could give the Chinese Communist Party "a launch-pad for economic warfare against our nation."
Furthermore, nine Labour MPs have written to Communities Secretary Steve Reed, arguing the new facility could be used to "step up intimidation" against Chinese dissidents living in the UK. A final decision on the planning application is expected by January 20, 2026, with reports suggesting the Prime Minister is poised to give it the green light.
Government's Balancing Act on China Policy
In response to the outcry, Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook told MPs it would be inappropriate to comment on a live case. However, he outlined the government's nuanced stance, stating: "We need a consistent position on China which cannot be boiled down to one word. We recognise that China poses a series of threats to UK national security and we challenge these robustly."
He also noted China's role as the world's second-largest economy and a major UK trading partner, pledging a "consistent and pragmatic approach to economic engagement without compromising our national security." The Home Office and Foreign Office have stated that initial security concerns have been addressed.
According to reports, an announcement to approve the embassy could come ahead of a potential prime ministerial trip to China, which would be the first since Theresa May's visit in 2018. The government has argued that consolidating China's currently scattered diplomatic staff from seven London sites into one location would "clearly bring security advantages" to the UK.
