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The U.S. House committee has alerted China to its plans to set up a massive embassy in London, saying the project has caused “significant security issues” for the UK’s financial services industry.
The House China Committee wrote on X: “The giant star of the People’s Republic of China has caused significant security issues: risks from intervention and surveillance to sensitive infrastructure such as London’s financial services.”
“We must address this issue urgently and work with our allies to protect national security.”
China hopes to build its largest diplomatic complex in Europe near the Tower of London to replace its embassy in Marybonn, central London. But the project has attracted the attention of local residents and some warnings that warned about the potential to increase espionage.
President Xi Jinping raised the issue of new construction last year with British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. According to Foreign Secretary David Lammy last week, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also held a separate UK in London with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy plan.
In recent years, British security officials, especially MI5, have become more vocal about so-called Chinese espionage.
Local villages that had jurisdiction over the historic Royal Mint Court site last year refused to approve the project, partly for a safe place. British Housing Minister Angela Rayner later controlled the plan decision and would make the final decision.
Metropolitan police had previously expressed opposition to the proposed plan because of concerns that anti-China protests would affect traffic, but later withdrew their objections.
In January, Lammy and British Home Secretary Yvette Cooper expressed support for the project, saying countries must have diplomatic hosts.
British Prime Minister Rachel Reeves aims to promote economic ties to China’s travel after intervention. The trip marked the first visit by the British Prime Minister since 2017, when Starmer’s government stepped up a diplomatic engagement with Beijing.
When the Trump administration debates whether to ratify a deal between Britain and Mauritius, the pair accidentally hit a key joint military base for Diego Garcia, concerns raised by the House committee in Washington came.
The United States is concerned that China’s surveillance at Diego Garcia is an important crossing point for nuclear submarines and bombers.
