‘It’s a fortress’: Is China building a mega embassy or a spy nest in London?
Westminster’s China hawks, however, fear that as well as being Europe’s biggest embassy, the Royal Mint Court is now also destined to become its biggest spy nest. “We won’t waste a single penny in ensuring that this embassy plan crashes on the solid rock of our judicial system,” said Nygate. An artist's impression of the proposed new Chinese Embassy in London. In 2018 China approached the developers with an unsolicited buyout bid of £225 million, setting in motion the embassy plan. Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty ImagesDespite protests and opposition, British housing secretary Steve Reed gave his formal approval to the embassy plan on Tuesday.
Source: The Irish Times January 24, 2026 02:33 UTC
