Data Photo: Approximately 3,000 people demonstrated in front of the old Royal Mint in London, protesting against the CCP's plan to construct a 'super embassy' at the site. Protesters displayed banners reading 'Say No to the CCP' on the railings. (February 8, 2025)
[People News] Following the UK's approval on Tuesday (January 20) of the CCP's application to establish a new 'super embassy' in central London, the chairman of the U.S. House China Special Committee remarked that the UK's decision is 'against common sense.' He further stated, 'This effectively rewards the CCP for surveilling the UK Parliament, interfering in UK elections, and supporting Russia's war in Ukraine.'
According to Voice of America, official documents from the UK reveal that Housing Minister Steve Reed granted 'planning permission and consent for changes to listed buildings' for the CCP's new embassy project. The proposed embassy will be situated on the site of the old Royal Mint near the City of London, covering an area of 20,000 square meters and located next to significant data cables. Once completed, it will become the CCP's largest diplomatic facility in Europe.
House China Special Committee: Against Common Sense
John Moolenaar, the chairman of the House of Representatives Special Committee on China (officially known as the Special Committee on Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party), issued a statement on Tuesday morning in Washington, stating, "Britain's decision is illogical. It effectively rewards the Chinese Communist Party for surveilling the British Parliament, interfering in British elections, and supporting Russia's war in Ukraine. The Chinese Communist Party is also suspected of cutting undersea cables, so allowing it to construct an embassy above critical infrastructure would pose a serious security risk. The only way to safeguard against this super embassy is to prohibit its construction."
This is not the first time the Special Committee on China has raised concerns about the Chinese embassy project in London. Moolenaar previously wrote to the UK government twice last year, in February and November, urging them to deny approval for the embassy's construction. In November, Moolenaar, along with House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast, co-signed a letter to UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, warning that the large embassy would pose a danger due to its proximity to key communication cables serving the City of London.
In February of last year, Mullenar and Chris Smith, the Chairman of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, sent a letter to former British Ambassador to the U.S., Peter Mandelson, expressing that "granting the Chinese Communist Party government such a significant diplomatic foothold in the UK will only encourage its intimidation and harassment of British citizens, as well as European dissidents and experts who oppose or criticize its policies."
The White House has also voiced concerns regarding this major project of the Chinese Communist Party in the UK. A senior official from the White House stated in an email to Voice of America on January 14 that the U.S. "remains deeply concerned about hostile forces taking advantage of critical infrastructure belonging to our closest allies."
Sarah Champion, a British Labour MP and Chair of the House of Commons International Development Committee, noted that in addition to the U.S., other British allies, including the Netherlands, Sweden, New Zealand, and Switzerland, have raised similar concerns.
During an emergency questioning session in the House of Commons about the planning proposal for the new embassy, she remarked: "Currently, the Dutch government, the Swiss parliament, the Swedish parliament, and the White House have intervened twice regarding the risks that the cables along the Royal Mint courtyard pose to UK infrastructure."
UK Government: The risks associated with the super embassy are being "properly managed"
The massive embassy project in London commenced in 2018, but for years, the potential security risks it poses to the UK have sparked considerable controversy for the British government, leading to the project's approval being delayed three times before it was finally approved on Tuesday.
Concerns are growing not only due to the risk to data security from the nearby important data cables but also regarding the potential for increased surveillance of Hong Kong exiles living in the UK once the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) super embassy is completed.
During a press conference at Downing Street on Monday, the Prime Minister's spokesperson assured that the risks associated with secret rooms in the planned CCP 'super embassy' in London are being effectively managed.
He stated, 'National security is our top priority. Both the Home Office and the Foreign Office have provided feedback on potential security issues during the planning process for this project, and these concerns have been formally addressed in writing.'
The controversy is far from resolved.
Despite this, concerns remain high.
Qian Pien expressed his disappointment on the social media platform X following the approval of the embassy project by the Keir Starmer government, saying, 'This is very disappointing.'
Alicia Kearns, the Conservative Party's spokesperson for Home Affairs, raised questions on X on Monday.
'The government claims they can mitigate the threats posed by the embassy to our citizens and interests, including the risk of leaked financial telegrams. However, no one can explain what capabilities the Conservative Party will develop to address this, or whether we can respond effectively. Even if we can respond, what will be the cost? Will British taxpayers ultimately have to bear the burden?'
She had previously warned that the new embassy would serve as a platform for the CCP to launch an 'economic war' against the UK.
The British Conservative Party has labelled this decision a 'cowardly act' and a 'shameful surrender to the super embassy', while the Liberal Democrats have claimed it to be Starmer's 'biggest mistake to date'. The British Reform Party has stated that they 'will never approve' the embassy, citing it as a security threat.
The controversy surrounding the CCP super embassy continues despite the government's approval. Opponents of the CCP embassy plan are organising for a senior lawyer to initiate a legal lawsuit.
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