China’s planned ‘mega-embassy’ in London will ‘only embolden’ Beijing to ‘intimidate and harass’ anti-regime dissidents living in Britain, US politicians have warned.
Beijing is controversially planning to construct a major new embassy on the 600,000 sq ft site of the former Royal Mint, opposite the Tower of London.
John Moolenar, chair of the US Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, and veteran Democrat Christopher Smith, said granting permission for the building would be ‘a counterproductive and unearned reward’ for the Chinese Communist Party.
It is Mr Moolenar’s second intervention in as many weeks – last week he warned that the embassy proposals raised ‘significant security concerns’ for the UK.
In a letter seen by the Mail to the new UK Ambassador to the US, Peter Mandelson, they wrote: ‘Although there seems to be some tentative approval by UK officials for the project, it is our opinion that gifting the Chinese Communist government with the largest embassy in Europe is a counterproductive and unearned reward.
‘Incongruously, the People’s Republic of China gets the largest embassy in Europe while thousands of political prisoners are detained in Hong Kong (including UK citizen Jimmy Lai), while the UK’s market is flooded with goods-from tinned tomatoes to solar panels-made with forced labor in China, and while diplomats associated with the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices spy on UK and EU citizens.’
China intend to turn the site into its largest diplomatic mission in Europe with offices, 225 homes and a cultural exchange building.
It bought the land six years ago for £255million, but saw proposals for the mega-embassy rejected in 2022.
Beijing is controversially planning to construct a major new embassy on the 600,000 sq ft site of the former Royal Mint, opposite the Tower of London
China intend to turn the site into its largest diplomatic mission in Europe with offices, 225 homes and a cultural exchange building (pictured: Protestors from various groups attend a demonstration against the proposed plans earlier this month)
China bought the land six years ago for £255million, but saw proposals for the mega-embassy rejected in 2022 (pictured: Protestors from various groups attend a demonstration against the proposed plans earlier this month)
However, just weeks after the general election last July, officials resubmitted identical plans, raising questions over whether they may be trying their luck with the new Labour government.
Last week MPs raised further concerns after the Mail revealed that neighbours of a Hong Kong activist had been sent a ‘wanted poster’ offering a reward for ‘delivering’ them to the Chinese Embassy.
Echoing warnings that the Embassy could be used as a de-facto detention centre, the US politicians added: ‘Conceding the Chinese Communist government such a prominent diplomatic foothold in the UK will only embolden its efforts to intimidate and harass UK citizens and dissidents and experts across Europe who oppose or criticize its policies.
‘China’s transnational repression operations are well-documented in the UK and throughout Europe.’
The pair sent the letter to Lord Mandelson, who faced questions himself over alleged links to Beijing, ahead of today’s meeting between the Prime Minister and US President Donald Trump.
They asked the Ambassador, who took up his post earlier this month, to raise the detention of Jimmy Lai, an imprisoned media tycoon, with both figures.
A protestor is detained by the police during a demonstration against the proposed site of the new Chinese Embassy earlier this month
Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and Chancellor Rachel Reeves
They concluded: ‘We take seriously the special relationship between the U.S.. and the UK and offer these opinions in the spirit of friendship and in service of an ongoing and strong alliance. We ask that you convey our concerns to Prime Minister Starmer during his upcoming visit to the United States and we would be happy to discuss them with you at your convenience.’
Mark Sabah, UK Director at the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation, said: ‘People have been warning the government that going ahead with this mega-embassy would be a bad idea.
‘It should be highly embarrassing that members of the US Congress feel the need to express their own concerns about it by writing to our government listing all the reasons why the British government should not be going ahead with this.
‘It’s shameful that everyone can see this is a bad idea – except our own government.’
Beijing have been lobbying the new government over the construction of the embassy. It was raised in talks between President Xi and Sir Keir Starmer last year, and then again between Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi and Mr Lammy in London earlier this month.
The fate of the mega-embassy will ultimately be signed off by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner.
A FCDO Spokesperson said: ‘National security is the first duty of Government. It has been our core priority throughout this process.
‘A final decision on this case will be made in due course by Ministers in the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government.’