British ministers have given support to the Chinese mega-embassy in London

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The United Kingdom’s foreign secretary and home secretary have intervened in China’s planning application for a massive new London embassy, ​​expressing their support for the proposed site.

In a joint letter to England’s Planning Inspectorate on Tuesday, David Lammy and Yvette Cooper stressed the “need for countries to have working diplomatic facilities in each other’s capitals”.

The intervention came after Rachel Reeves visited Beijing and Shanghai last week to boost economic ties, the first trip by a British chancellor to the Chinese capital since 2017. Lamy visited. China last year.

In the letter, Lammy and Cooper said the Metropolitan Police had “raised their objections” to Beijing’s proposal to build a diplomatic complex at the Royal Mint Court near London’s suburbs.

In a letter seen by the Financial Times, the two senior cabinet ministers said: “On balance, the Metropolitan Police’s public order experts are satisfied that there is sufficient space for future protests.”

But the ministers asked China to agree to change a “small design element” and give up diplomatic recognition of seven other campuses spread across London.

Housing Secretary Angela Reiner, who will decide whether the embassy is approved, said, “There should be no decision on this application until we have a solid plan to strengthen the Chinese diplomatic compound.”

The Chinese government has underlined its ambitions in talks with London to build the new embassy, ​​which would be China’s largest diplomatic mission in Europe, after its attempt to gain planning permission in 2022 was blocked by the local council.

Chinese President Xi Jinping raised the issue directly with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer after Beijing launched a new app last summer. Tower Hamlets Local Authority refused to approve the proposal, citing both safety reasons and the impact on local residents.

The new complex covers more than 20,000 square meters and is much larger than the Chinese Embassy in Marylebone, which was built on an area of ​​830 square meters.

Lammy and Cooper’s letter acknowledged that the Metropolitan Police had “previously raised concerns that the site could host protesters” and that there were “differences of opinion as to where protesters could congregate”.

The letter called for the scrapping of “uncontrolled public access” plans that require a permit to enter, saying the site’s diplomatic status could delay authorities responding to a security risk or health emergency.

Instead, Lammy and Cooper said “occasional controlled public access” between the Chinese embassy and UK officials would require a heavy perimeter around the area.

The Financial Times reported in October that Rainer had. It was called Taking the decision out of the hands of the Tower Hamlets Council and last month they had Chinese state-owned enterprises Entries submitted. Support for government applications.

Reiner will decide whether to approve the embassy after receiving feedback from the planning inspector. The UK is looking to rebuild its embassy in China, which would require Beijing’s approval.

“The mask has slipped and now it’s clear that the government is desperate to approve the Chinese,” said Luc de Pulford, chief executive of the cross-party legislative group China’s Inter-Parliamentary Alliance (IPAC). Application, under the pressure of Beijing.

National security concerns alone should be sufficient to stop this, but the collective will of local councils and residents is also important.

The UK Labor administration has told Beijing it is pursuing a “three Cs” approach, pledging to cooperate on global issues such as climate and health, compete on issues such as human rights and compete where appropriate.

A UK government spokesman said: “National security is the first duty of government. It was our main priority in this process.

“That is why the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Home Office have submitted written representations to reflect these issues and recognize the need for all states to have diplomatic posts working in each other’s capitals.”

The Metropolitan Police in London and the Chinese Embassy did not immediately respond to requests for comment.