UK rejects claims of ‘commitments’ over proposed Chinese embassy

Downing Street has rejected Chinese claims it was failing to “honour its commitments” by delaying a decision on permission for a new embassy in London.

Housing Secretary Steve Reed pushed back the deadline for making a decision on planning permission for the new Chinese embassy until December 10.

The move, which further delayed a long-awaited decision on the embassy, brought condemnation from the Chinese government, with a spokesman for Beijing’s ministry of foreign affairs threatening “consequences”.

On Friday, spokesman Lin Jian said China had shown “utmost sincerity and patience” over the decision, while accusing the UK of lacking “the spirit of contract, credibility and ethics” while “complicating and politicising the matter”.

He added: “That goes entirely against the UK’s commitments and previous remarks about improving China-UK relations.

“We once again call on the UK to fulfil its obligation and honour its commitments at once, otherwise the consequences arising therefrom shall be borne by the UK side.”

But Downing Street pushed back, with a spokesman saying the UK did not “recognise any claims of commitments or assurances” over the embassy.

Earlier in the week, Parliament’s Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy urged Mr Reed to reject Beijing’s application for a new embassy at the former Royal Mint, near the Tower of London.

Committee chairman Matt Western said approving the plans was “not in the UK’s long-term interest” and claimed the site posed spying risks due to its proximity to communications networks and data centres.

He also noted reports of plans for basement rooms and tunnels and that the security services have warned that allowing Beijing to set up the biggest embassy in Europe would create a hub for the country to expand its “intelligence-gathering and intimidation operations”.

The row over the proposed new embassy comes amid continued scrutiny of how the case against two alleged Chinese spies collapsed, and adds to the Government’s difficulties as it attempts to thaw relations with Beijing.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said the row shows Sir Keir Starmer was “not looking after national security enough”.

She said: “What the Prime Minister needs to do is show some backbone. He is being weak, kowtowing to China.”