Plans to build a Chinese mega-embassy in London could bring “security benefits”, the Prime Minister's spokesman has said, despite security concerns from opponents.
Number 10 highlighted the security benefit of consolidating seven Chinese sites currently scattered across the capital as the date for a decision on granting planning permission was pushed back for a third time to the new year.
Some believe China's mega-embassy, if given the go-ahead, would become a huge spy center in the heart of London.
However, the government is expected to give the green light to the embassy on January 20 next year.
This is the third time the decision on whether to go ahead with the embassy has been delayed, and the delay is understood to allow more time for consultation with all interested parties.
In a letter seen by one of the groups opposing the plan, the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, the interior and foreign ministers said they were working to ensure that “national security issues” related to the new embassy were addressed.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said their concerns had been addressed as China agreed it would move all its accredited diplomats in London to a single facility if it was approved.
On Tuesday, the Prime Minister's spokesman said the consolidation would “clearly bring security benefits” to the UK.
“If the planning decision for the new embassy is approved, the new embassy will replace the seven different sites that currently make up China's diplomatic presence in London, which clearly has security benefits,” he said.
He added that the Home Office and Foreign Office “have provided views on the specific security implications and have made it clear that no decision should be made until we have confirmed that these considerations have been completed or resolved.”
[BBC]
If the plans go ahead, the Chinese embassy will be the largest in Europe, housing 200 staff as well as offices and a large basement.
The facility, located at the Royal Mint, will also be close to the fiber optic cables that transmit huge amounts of highly sensitive data to the City of London.
Suspicions were also raised when embassy planning documents had parts of the drawings removed when they were presented to Tower Hamlets council, marked “redacted for security reasons”.
Back in the summer, then-Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner gave China two weeks to explain what the rooms would be used for, and officials now appear satisfied.
The Chinese Embassy in the UK has previously said the new complex will promote “mutually beneficial cooperation” between China and the UK, with officials arguing that objections to the facility are unfounded.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has focused on difficult balance UK-China relations in a speech outlining his foreign policy priorities in the City of London on Monday.
Stressing that China remains a “defining force in technology, trade and global governance” while acknowledging the “reality” that China “poses a threat to national security”, Sir Keir said he wanted to take advantage of potential export opportunities in finance, pharmaceuticals and luxury goods.
The head of MI5 has described Chinese government officials as a daily threat to Britain's national security, and last month the security service issued an unusual spy alert about two named Chinese LinkedIn profiles. targeted at MPs and parliamentary staffwhich China has denied.
Shadow Housing Secretary Sir James Cleverley accused the Labor Party of trying to “derail” approval of the plan “without proper oversight” and despite the “danger it poses to UK national security” because ministers do not have the “backbone to stand up to China”.
“Throughout this process, ministers have sought to suppress criticism of the embassy plans,” he said.
“Even our security services were not allowed to provide private evidence to the investigation.
“The government must now ensure they can raise their concerns through private hearings, safe from the eyes of the regime in Beijing, and it is critical that authorities have access to the full, unedited drawings hidden by the Chinese government.”
A spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in London said: “We strongly regret the repeated delays in the UK's decision on the planning application for the new Chinese Embassy project.
“We urge the UK side to approve our planning application as soon as possible to avoid further erosion of mutual trust and cooperation between the two sides.”
[BBC]
[BBC]
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