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The British government has once again postponed the decision on whether to approve China’s application for a new super-embassy in London. Housing Secretary Steve Reed, who was set to rule on the application by October 21, has extended the deadline to December 10. This is the second delay in the decision-making process regarding the controversial site, which has raised espionage concerns due to its location.
The proposed new embassy, situated at Royal Mint Court near the Tower of London, was bought by China in 2018 for £255 million. If built, the complex, spanning 20,000 square meters, would be the largest embassy in Europe. The security implications of the embassy plan, including its proximity to vital financial communication cables and the potential for espionage, have drawn increased scrutiny in recent months.
The government’s initial deferral was sparked by former Housing Secretary Angela Rayner’s request for China to explain why certain rooms in its planning documents were omitted for security reasons. Planning consultants representing the Chinese embassy asserted that full internal layout plans were unnecessary as a matter of principle. Following Rayner’s request for additional responses, Reed, Rayner’s successor, has sought more time to consider the complex issues at play in the decision-making process.
Opposition parties, including the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, have called for the rejection of the embassy application, citing concerns over national security threats posed by the proposed site. With warnings from the head of MI5 emphasizing the dangers of Chinese espionage, the government faces mounting pressure to prioritize national security while managing diplomatic relations with Beijing. Sir Ken McCallum emphasized the need for resolute defense against Chinese state actors, underscoring the delicate balance between safeguarding national interests and fostering international partnerships
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