On Tuesday, January 20, the UK government approved China’s proposal to construct its largest embassy in Europe, located in London, a project that had faced delays due to security concerns.
This approval was announced prior to Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s forthcoming visit to China this month, despite concerns about a rise in Chinese espionage, which has left local Tibetans, Hong Kongers, Uyghurs, and Taiwanese residents anxious about potential transnational repression.
According to Reuters, Starmer’s trip was reportedly contingent upon this approval, as per sources from both British and Chinese officials.
The UK government has recognized the threats posed by China but stated that national security will remain intact.
“China poses and will continue to pose threats to our national security,” Britain’s security minister Dan Jarvis informed parliament, noting that an assessment indicated no actual risk to national security.
The decision regarding the mega-embassy project has faced numerous delays since it was proposed nearly seven years ago. In August 2025, the UK government requested greater transparency regarding the construction plan, seeking details about the intended use of a two-hectare “greyed-out” area in the proposal. Chinese President Xi Jinping has since urged Starmer to take action.
The initial challenge to establish the embassy at the former Royal Mint site occurred in 2022 when a local council denied permission to proceed with the project. China has been actively pursuing its goal to create its largest diplomatic outpost in the UK since acquiring the site for approximately £250 million ($318 million) in 2018.
This new embassy will be nearly ten times larger than China‘s existing embassy in central London.
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