Ministers have approved a new Chinese embassy in London despite intelligence agencies stating that national security risks cannot be fully eliminated. Local Government Secretary Steve Reed granted planning permission for the building at Royal Mint Court, near the Tower of London, on Tuesday.
Security minister Dan Jarvis told MPs he was assured that UK national security was protected and any risks were being appropriately managed. However, in a letter to the Foreign Secretary and Home Secretary, the heads of MI5 and GCHQ acknowledged it was not realistic to expect to eliminate wholly the risks posed by foreign embassies, including the new Chinese mission.
The decision comes amid long-running opposition from campaigners and MPs, who warn the embassy, the largest in Europe, could become a hub for espionage and intimidation. Conservative MP Sir Iain Duncan Smith, sanctioned by China, said the decision sent entirely the wrong message at a time of Chinese intimidation.
The Government maintains that risks can be managed, and Mr Jarvis cited national security advantages in consolidating seven Chinese diplomatic buildings into one site. Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee partially supported the decision, stating security concerns could be satisfactorily mitigated, though it criticised the evaluation process.
Opponents, including the Royal Mint Residents’ Association, plan to mount a judicial review, focusing on whether the decision was pre-determined and on access to historic ruins. Lord David Alton of the Interparliamentary Alliance on China questioned how risks from spies could be managed, comparing the situation to Cold War-era concessions to the Kremlin.
The approval removes a diplomatic hurdle in the Government's efforts to improve relations with Beijing and paves the way for a possible visit to China by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
