China has been granted approval to construct a large new embassy in central London, despite facing criticism from MPs and activists who fear it will serve as a hub for espionage and security crackdowns.

The decision to greenlight the embassy at Royal Mint Court, close to the Tower of London, was made by Local Government Secretary Steve Reed, signaling a diplomatic breakthrough with Xi Jinping’s administration and paving the way for an anticipated visit by Keir Starmer to China in the near future.

Leaked plans revealed that the embassy would have 208 rooms underground, raising concerns about potential espionage activities in a period of heightened tensions. Despite objections from members of the Labour-led Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy, who warned that the embassy, set to be the largest in Europe, could facilitate expanded intelligence-gathering and intimidation efforts, the approval process moved forward.

The Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, actively campaigning against the new Chinese embassy, criticized the planning approval as a detrimental decision for the UK. Luke de Pulford, a co-founder of the group, expressed disappointment, stating that the decision sends negative signals and compromises dissidents and national security.

Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs spokesman Calum Miller condemned the decision, calling it a grave error that undermines national security. Labour’s Sarah Champion, chair of the International Development Agency, emphasized that China is viewed as a hostile state by security briefings and stressed that the mega embassy should not proceed.

In a published letter from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, it was confirmed that planning permission and listed building consent had been granted for the embassy site at Royal Mint Court, near the Tower of London. The decision was based on the Inspector’s recommendation and agreed upon by the Secretary of State, with conditions attached to the approval.