BEIJING/LONDON – China has warned the United Kingdom it will “bear all the consequences” if london does not “immediately fulfill its obligations adn honor its commitments” regarding a stalled Chinese embassy project in London, escalating diplomatic tensions between the two nations. The dispute centers on Beijing‘s plans to build a new £255 million “mega-embassy” in Royal Mint Court, near the Tower of London, a project paralyzed for three years due to security concerns and opposition from local residents, legislators, and activists.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, speaking through spokesperson lin Jian, accused the UK of acting in bad faith. Though, a spokesperson for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer dismissed any claims of prior commitments, stating, “I can’t explain the statement they made, I couldn’t speak on behalf of the Chinese embassy.”
Downing street maintains the delay in a decision is not politically motivated, but due to the complexity of the request and the priority of “protecting the UK’s national security.” A letter from the British Ministry of Housing to Chinese diplomacy, obtained by the BBC, cited the need for “more time for full analysis” due to the “detailed nature” of responses received and delays from the Home and Foreign Ministries.
The situation is further complicated by the recent collapse of a spying case against two British citizens, Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry, accused of espionage for China between 2021 and 2023. Prosecutors unexpectedly dropped the charges last month, leading to accusations that the Starmer government is downplaying the Chinese threat and prioritizing diplomatic relations with Beijing.
As taking office, Keir Starmer has prioritized improving relations with China, aiming to attract Chinese investment for large infrastructure projects, despite ongoing allegations of Chinese espionage and cyberattacks within the UK. Chinese President xi Jinping has directly appealed to Starmer to unblock the embassy project. The proposed complex, spanning 20,000 square meters, woudl be the largest embassy in Europe.China purchased the land in 2018, but the construction request was initially rejected in 2022, prompting the current diplomatic standoff.
