Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.
The UK government has emphasized that no final decision has been reached regarding the proposed construction of a large Chinese embassy in London. This follows widespread concern among MPs from various parties who have voiced fears over potential risks to national security posed by the project. Critics from the Conservative Party warned that the development could facilitate economic aggression by China.
In a Commons debate attended by MPs from Labour, the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, the DUP, and the SNP, there were calls for the government to block the embassy plans. The main reasons cited included fears of espionage and protecting Hong Kong residents in the UK from what was described as “transnational repression.” Planning Minister Matthew Pennycook acknowledged these concerns and assured that all relevant factors would be considered before a decision expected by 20 January.
Conservative shadow Home Office minister Alicia Kearns referred to a report alleging the embassy’s design includes secret spaces, such as a concealed chamber near fibre-optic cables leading to the City of London. According to the drawings reviewed by the media, China intends to rebuild part of the basement wall adjacent to these cables. Kearns argued this could provide the Chinese Communist Party with a strategic position for potential economic espionage, as the cables carry vast amounts of British personal and financial data. She also condemned the proposal for effectively rewarding China while it holds British national Jimmy Lai in detention. Kearns further criticized the government for dispatching a planning minister to address the issue instead of a representative from the Foreign Office.
Labour MP Sarah Champion, chair of the Commons International Development Select Committee, expressed strong opposition to the plans, stating that multiple government bodies and international allies have expressed unease over the mega-embassy. She described China as a hostile power based on security briefings and said, “I am in no doubt this mega-embassy should not be allowed to go ahead.” Despite these concerns, Pennycook refrained from commenting on an ongoing planning matter and reiterated that the final call rests with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. He acknowledged the dual nature of China as both a security threat and an important trade partner for the UK. Liberal Democrat MP Bobby Dean criticized Pennycook’s responses as dismissive, arguing that the decision carried significant diplomatic implications beyond routine planning considerations. It is noteworthy that Sir Keir Starmer is preparing for a potential visit to China early this year, which would mark the first UK Prime Ministerial trip there since 2018. China’s government has prioritized obtaining approval for the embassy, having bought the £255 million site in question in 2018. The location, opposite the Tower of London and formerly the Royal Mint, is set to become the largest embassy established by any nation in Europe if approved
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.