In a move that escalates tensions between UK and China, Beijing has criticised further delays to a planning decision on its proposed “mega embassy” in London.
China’s ministry of foreign affairs expressed “grave concern and strong dissatisfaction” after Steve Reed, the Housing Secretary, pushed back his final decision on the proposal until December 10, 2025.
Lin Jian, a Spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, asserted at a press conference that the UK had shown “disregard for contractual spirit, acting in bad faith and without integrity.”
He stressed that China had acted with “the utmost sincerity and patience” and the UK should “immediately fulfil its obligations and honour its commitments otherwise the British side shall bear all consequences.”
China bought the site of the prospective embassy, which is near the Tower of London, for £255m in 2018. Tower Hamlets council refused permission for the project in 2022, prompting wrangling over whether it could go ahead.
Angela Rayner took over the decision last year in her role as Housing Secretary, but was replaced by Reed days before a decision deadline of September 9, 2025.
That deadline was pushed back until October 21 after China redacted large portions of its plans for what it said were security reasons.
Matt Western, the Labour MP who chairs the joint committee on national security wrote to the government on Monday to say that approving the embassy was “not in the UK’s long-term interest.”
Western said that the proposed location posed “eavesdropping risks in peacetime and sabotage risks in a crisis” owing to its proximity to fibre-optic cables, data centres and telecoms exchanges serving Canary Wharf and the City.
Yesterday, the UK government disclosed that the decision had been delayed again in the midst of a separate controversy over two British citizens accused of spying for China.
The case against the pair, Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry, collapsed last month, prompting accusations that the government had intervened in order to preserve diplomatic ties with Beijing.
Starmer’s Attempts To Reset Ties Between UK And China Further Complicated
The row over the planning decision on Beijing’s proposed “mega embassy” in London further complicates attempts by Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, to reset relations with Beijing, which have already been damaged by a row over alleged Chinese espionage in the UK.
Starmer has been keen to improve relations with Beijing as he seeks foreign investment to help build major infrastructure projects in the UK. However, those attempts have faced multiple hurdles, including the two recent rows, over spying and the proposed new embassy.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister’s Spokesperson told reporters today that he did not “recognise any claims of commitments or assurances.”
“I can’t explain the statement they’ve set out, I wouldn’t be able to speak on behalf of the Chinese embassy.
“Protecting the UK’s national security is our first duty. In terms of the planning process, as set out yesterday, this is a decision that is independent of the rest of government.”
UK Prime Minister’s Spokesperson
Downing Street said that the new delay to the embassy planning decision was not motivated by political concerns and instead reflected the complexity of the application.
A Spokesperson said on Thursday that given the detailed nature of the representations that have been provided, and the need to give parties sufficient opportunity to respond, “the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government considers that more time is needed for full consideration of the applications.”
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