Chinese officials have again laid out plans for a “super embassy” miles from Westminster, which would be the new government’s first check on China.
Beijing’s plans for a huge embassy in the former Royal Mint, near the Tower of London, were rejected in December 2022.
But in documents filed with the Tower Hamlets council, Chinese embassy officials said this was “unfounded” and “had no basis for formulating political plans. “
It urges the government to reconsider its application for a building permit, which remains unchanged from the one it rejected two years ago.
Beijing appealed the initial rejection, without the six-month deadline it had to do so.
Former Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood said: “There is no justification for an embassy to increase its length tenfold, unless it is attempting to extend its powers far beyond the criteria of the regime’s international relations, which would undoubtedly entail clandestine activities.
“Given China’s growing influence in global affairs, which demands situations of economic, technological and military dominance by the United States, it is increasingly vital that we have a fair and transparent relationship with China, which comes to denounce Beijing for habits that do not meet foreign standards. »
The long wait to resubmit its plans has led to the hypothesis that Beijing will react to the government.
Don’t miss. . . Vladimir Putin’s crazy £179 billion project to build a railway line between Moscow and Beijing [LATEST]
Initial plans for a diplomatic outpost of about 620,000 square feet were submitted in 2021. In addition to an embassy, it would also include offices, 225 housing complexes and a “cultural exchange” building.
It would sit three miles east of Westminster, and be more than 10 times the size of China’s existing base at Portland Place in Marylebone.
The Chinese government bought the index for more than £255 million in 2018.
Former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said: “China does nothing by chance. “China will now consult with the Labor government to see if it can be persuaded to give it the embassy it wants. ”
Proposals for the “super embassy” have faced opposition from MPs and local residents.
The council won 51 objections to the initial proposals, raising safety and security considerations such as the possible threat of protests in the area.
Former Conservative MP Tim Loughton, subject to sanctions imposed by Beijing in 2021, said: “Once again, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) government believes it is above the law, oblivious to the outright rejection of its initial request for embassy planning.
“The CCP has been accused of abusing its diplomatic prestige to advertise personal police stations to enforce its own edition of justice against warring parties in a sovereign state; of infiltrating spies even in the center of our democracy and launching cyberattacks against parliamentarians and ministers. , adding me.
“Their plans to expand the presence of their embassies are a blatant attempt to expand their malign activities against the United Kingdom and the West and they will have to be resolutely expelled as they were before. “
Although it will be up to Tower Hamlets to review plans for the “super-embassy”, the importance of the task means that the government will most likely face pressure from Beijing on this issue.
China accused the previous government of failing to meet its diplomatic obligations when the plans were initially rejected.
Sir Iain said the revived plans must be rejected once again.
He said: “If [China] needs an embassy, let it be away from the main component of the city, as the United States and others have done. “
Don’t miss. . . China has closed police stations in the UK, says Security Minister [LATEST]
We use your registration to provide content in the manner in which you have consented and as we perceive you. This would possibly include advertising by us and third parties, as we perceive it. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy
A spokesman for Tower Hamlets Council said: “A new application for indexed drawing plans and building consent has been submitted to enlarge an embassy on the Royal Mint Court site.
“The planning team is reviewing the application and public consultation has begun. At this point, we have a deadline for the committee.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy has pledged to conduct a “full audit” of the United Kingdom’s relationship with China as part of a reset.
Tensions between the UK and China are at an all-time high. In May, the UK said China was most likely a Ministry of Defense hacker, which Beijing denied.
Would you like to receive notifications from Daily Express?