(Adnkronos) – The green light for China’s mega embassy in London is expected between today and tomorrow. The Guardian reports that the decision on the project for the large diplomatic headquarters in the Royal Mint Court district is now imminent, after years of delays and disputes. According to diplomatic sources, the British government is expected to approve the plan, paving the way for the construction of the largest Chinese diplomatic complex in Europe, purchased by Beijing in 2018 for 255 million pounds (approximately 295 million euros).
Over the years, the dossier has become a central issue in relations between London and Beijing, to the point of being directly raised by President Xi Jinping in his first telephone conversation with Prime Minister Keir Starmer in August 2024. The approval could help ease tensions ahead of Starmer’s visit to China, scheduled from January 29 to 31, the first by a British Prime Minister since 2018. For its part, London assures that the decision will be made independently and with full attention to security profiles.
However, the prospect of approval continues to provoke strong controversy and political and local opposition, amid fears of espionage and protests from the Chinese diaspora – particularly communities from Hong Kong and Taiwan, but also Tibetans and Uyghurs – concerned about the establishment of a new “headquarters” for the Dragon in Europe. The Foreign Office reiterated that “maintaining embassies is normal diplomatic practice” and that a final decision will be made by tomorrow, emphasizing that national security remains a priority.
