Angela Rayner has asked China to un-redact parts of the plans that had been ‘greyed out’ in the application
Ministers have asked China to explain redacted designs for a “super-embassy” in London as they prepare for a final decision on the controversial building. What’s at stake and why are the proposals so contentious?
If the building goes ahead it would be the biggest embassy in Europe, in the heart of the city and near the Tower of London. The 20,000 sq metre (5 acre) site, which was once home to the Royal Mint, was bought by China for £225m in 2018. Beijing commissioned David Chipperfield, one of Britain’s most respected architects, to design the new embassy and cultural centre for the site.
Dissidents fear it will be used as a centre to spy on, harass and possibly detain opponents of the Chinese government. They point to how in 2022, a Hong Kong pro-democracy protester was dragged into the grounds of the Chinese consulate and then beaten. Local residents are concerned the new embassy will be a magnet for protests and a potential security risk. China hawks and some of Britain’s allies, notably the US, warn that it also poses an espionage risk because of its close proximity to London’s financial district. In June the White House voiced “deep concern” about the new embassy and noted its closeness to the London office of several US banks.
