Sir Keir Starmer is expected to formally approve the construction of a new 20,000 square meter Chinese embassy in central London, despite heightened concerns over espionage. Reports indicate that the Prime Minister has received the go-ahead from MI5 and MI6, with sources telling The Times that neither the Home Office nor the Foreign Office will formally object to the plans.
The deadline for a final decision has been extended to December 10, 2023, allowing both departments, which oversee national security, to submit their responses to the government in the coming days. Starmer is planning his first bilateral visit to China in January or February 2024, aiming to bolster economic and diplomatic ties with Beijing, but sources have suggested that this trip hinges on the embassy’s approval next month.
Concerns Over Espionage and Political Backlash
The approval of the embassy is expected to be perceived as a mere “formality,” according to a Whitehall insider. This development arrives amid ongoing concerns following the collapse of a Chinese espionage case and warnings from MI5 regarding threats posed by the Chinese state to UK national security. The British government is grappling with the challenge of easing tensions with Beijing while addressing these security issues.
In 2022, Tower Hamlets Council rejected the initial proposals for the embassy, prompting China to forgo an appeal. However, after the Labour Party’s electoral victory, a new application was submitted, which led the plans to be “called in” for ministerial decision.
On Tuesday, Security Minister Dan Jarvis emphasized that the government will not tolerate “covert and calculated” attempts by China to influence UK affairs. In a related warning, MI5 alerted Members of Parliament and their staff about potential espionage efforts involving recruitment through head-hunters.
Jarvis detailed that MI5 has identified attempts by China to “recruit and cultivate” individuals with access to sensitive information, often using cover companies. In response, the government is launching an “espionage action plan” that includes a £170 million investment in renewed encrypted technology for civil servants and an additional £130 million to support counter-terrorism police in enforcing the National Security Act.
Political Reactions and Future Implications
The decision to approve the embassy is likely to provoke significant political backlash. Recently, members of the Conservative Party have urged Labour to categorize China under an enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS). Alicia Kearns, the shadow home office minister, criticized the government for prioritizing public relations over national security, insisting on the necessity for China to be placed in this enhanced tier and calling for the proposed embassy to be rejected.
Jarvis stated that the government is “looking closely” at the need for further additions to the enhanced tier and clarified that the final decision regarding the Chinese embassy will rest with Housing Secretary Steve Reed, who will act in a “quasi-judicial capacity.”
The Liberal Democrats have also voiced their opposition, with home affairs spokeswoman Lisa Smart asserting that the government’s measures are insufficient and calling for the embassy proposal near Tower Bridge to be denied.
As the situation unfolds, the implications of this decision could reshape UK-China relations and define the government’s approach to national security in the face of foreign influence.
