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3h ago

UK Set to Rule on China’s Royal Mint Court Mega-Embassy as Protests Mount

The decision is shaping how the government balances security warnings against its effort to reset relations with Beijing.

Demonstrators hold placards and flags as they attend a protest against the proposed Chinese embassy, in London, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
Demonstrators hold placards and flags as they attend a protest against the opening of the new Chinese embassy, in London, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
Image
Demonstrators hold placards and flags as they attend a protest against the proposed Chinese embassy, in London, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Overview

  • Ministers face a deadline on or before 20 January to decide on China’s plan for its largest European embassy at Royal Mint Court.
  • It is widely reported that approval is expected, with timing seen as paving the way for Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s planned visit to China.
  • Hundreds protested at the site, led by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and joined by cross-party MPs, urging the government to block the project.
  • Unredacted plans reported by the Daily Telegraph describe 208 underground rooms and a concealed chamber near key fibre‑optic cables linking the City and Canary Wharf.
  • Reporting differs on whether UK intelligence services have effectively cleared the project, while the Chinese embassy rejects espionage claims as baseless.