By Micah Jonah, January 21, 2026
The British government has granted China permission to build the largest embassy in Europe at the Royal Mint Court in London, eight years after Beijing purchased the site. The decision comes ahead of Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to China, the first by a UK leader since 2018.
The approval follows years of opposition from residents, lawmakers, and Hong Kong pro-democracy activists, who fear the embassy could be used for harassment, spying, or detaining political opponents. Nearby residents have also raised security concerns. Legal challenges remain possible.
UK officials, including Housing Minister, Steve Reed; Security Minister, Dan Jarvis, stated that national security risks have been thoroughly reviewed and mitigated, with intelligence agencies involved in the process. MI5 has previously warned of Chinese espionage targeting UK politicians, though Beijing denies these allegations.
Starmer emphasized that diplomatic engagement with China remains necessary while ensuring UK national security is protected.
