Exclusive: Former PM gave consent while foreign secretary for Royal Mint Court complex, a project still in limbo seven years later
Boris Johnson approved the China’s super-embassy proposal in 2018 and welcomed the fact it would represent “China’s largest overseas diplomatic investment” anywhere in the world, the Guardian can disclose.
In a letter to Wang Yi, China’s top diplomat, Johnson gave his consent for Royal Mint Court to house a sprawling diplomatic complex in May 2018. The Chinese government bought the 20,000 sq metres site for £255m that same month.
The disclosure demonstrates that the Conservatives under Theresa May gave Beijing assurances that it could proceed with the proposal, which is still in limbo seven years later after attracting huge political and local backlash.
Johnson’s letter, sent while he was foreign secretary, was a response to Wang setting out details of the planned project in April.
