UK Labour Government Resumes Chinese Embassy Plans With 200-Spy Campus in London

Plans for a new Chinese 'super embassy' in London, located at the historic Royal Mint site near the Tower of London, have raised significant security concerns due to the inclusion of on-site accommodation for over 200 intelligence officers and underground facilities reportedly designed for espionage. Despite initial suspension by the previous government following warnings from MI5, Scotland Yard, and the Bank of England, construction resumed under the current Labour government after lobbying by Chinese President Xi Jinping, prompting backlash from UK officials and international allies such as the US and the Netherlands. The embassy site lies between major financial hubs and data centres, including the London Stock Exchange, intensifying fears about potential intelligence gathering and cyber risks. Reports indicate that a so-called 'cultural exchange' section within the embassy is exempt from UK inspection, with US security sources describing such departments as fronts for intelligence activities. Local opposition includes the Royal Mint Court Residents Association's legal challenge, while political figures criticize the government's decision as enabling Chinese state-sponsored repression and espionage. The embassy plans have undergone public inquiry and are now expected to be approved, raising urgent questions about national security and diplomatic transparency.