Britain has approved plans for China to build its largest embassy in Europe in central London, ending a three-year planning stalemate and reigniting fierce debate over national security,
espionage risks, and the UK’s evolving relationship with Beijing.
The decision allows China to redevelop Royal Mint Court, a historic site near the Tower of London, into a vast diplomatic complex that would be nearly ten times the size of its current embassy in the British capital. The approval was announced on Tuesday, just days before an expected visit to China by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the first such trip by a UK leader since 2018.
A strategic decision ahead of key China talks
Government sources say the embassy approval removes a major diplomatic obstacle ahead of Starmer’s visit, which officials from both countries have suggested was contingent on the project moving forward. Improving ties with Beijing is a core element of Starmer’s foreign policy agenda, particularly in trade and investment.
“National security is our first duty,” a government spokesperson said, stressing that UK intelligence agencies were involved throughout the planning process and that a range of protective security measures will be enforced.
Security fears and political backlash
The move has drawn sharp criticism from lawmakers in Britain and the United States, who argue the embassy’s location near London’s financial district could pose intelligence risks. Some have warned the site could be used to monitor or access fibre-optic cables carrying sensitive financial and commercial data.
British security officials have previously cautioned that a significantly larger embassy would likely mean a greater Chinese intelligence presence operating under diplomatic cover—an allegation China has consistently denied.
The opposition Conservative Party condemned the decision, calling it “a disgraceful act of cowardice” and accusing the government of placing diplomacy ahead of national security.
MI5: risks can be managed
The head of Britain’s domestic intelligence service, MI5, said last year that the UK has more than a century of experience dealing with foreign embassies and managing the risks they pose. However, MI5 has also warned about China’s attempts to recruit individuals with access to government and political institutions.
Those concerns intensified after the collapse of a recent trial involving two British men accused of spying for China, fuelling criticism that the government is softening its stance on Beijing.
Local opposition and possible legal challenge
Local residents and campaign groups remain strongly opposed to the project. Some are now considering launching a judicial review to challenge the approval, arguing the development would disrupt the area and undermine public safety.
China purchased Royal Mint Court in 2018 for £255 million, and Chinese officials say they were given assurances by the UK government at the time that an embassy could be built there. The site, once home to the Royal Mint, has been largely unused for decades.
A symbol of the UK’s China dilemma
The embassy approval underscores Britain’s shifting approach to China over the past decade—from aspiring to be Beijing’s strongest European partner, to becoming one of its most vocal critics, and now attempting a cautious reset.
At around 55,000 square metres, the proposed embassy would be one of the largest diplomatic missions in the world, larger even than China’s embassy in the United States. Its construction will be subject to technical conditions covering environmental impact, access, and building methods.
For the Starmer government, the decision reflects a calculated gamble: that tighter security oversight can contain the risks, while improved diplomatic ties deliver economic and strategic benefits. Critics warn the long-term costs may outweigh any short-term gains. Photo by Chmee2, Wikimedia commons.