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UK Delays China 'Super Embassy' Ruling to January as Starmer Sets Out Hard-Edged Engagement

Security services judged risks manageable, shaping expectations of approval before a potential Starmer trip to Beijing.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks during the annual Lady Mayor's Banquet at the Guildhall in London, Britain, December 1, 2025. REUTERS/Chris J. Ratcliffe
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FILE -Protesters hold umbrellas, placards, and flags as they demonstrate against the proposed building of a new Chinese embassy, and to mark the 11th year of the Umbrella Revolution in Hong Kong, in London, Sept. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Joanna Chan, File)

Overview

  • The housing secretary set a new deadline of January 20 for the Royal Mint Court decision after late security submissions from the Home Office and Foreign Office.
  • Keir Starmer said China poses national security threats but argued for a managed approach that rejects past swings between a ‘golden age’ and an ‘ice age’.
  • Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper told officials they had carefully considered security issues and that concerns have been addressed.
  • Reporting indicates MI5 and MI6 view the risks as manageable, and No 10 says consolidating seven sites into one could offer security benefits.
  • China’s embassy denounced Starmer’s remarks as groundless and urged swift approval, while residents, campaigners and some MPs continue to press espionage and rights concerns linked to the site.