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A US Home of Representatives committee has sounded the alarm over China’s plan to construct an enormous embassy in London, saying the mission raises “vital safety issues” for the UK monetary providers trade.
“The Individuals’s Republic of China mega-embassy within the UK raises vital safety issues: from interference and surveillance to dangers for delicate infrastructure like London’s monetary providers,” the Home China committee wrote on X.
“We should work to urgently handle this situation and work with our allies to guard nationwide safety,” added the committee, which is chaired by John Moolenaar, a Republican congressman from Michigan.
China desires to construct its largest diplomatic complicated in Europe close to the Tower of London, changing its embassy in Marylebone in central London. However the mission has sparked concern from native residents and a few politicians who’ve warned concerning the potential for elevated espionage.
President Xi Jinping final yr raised the difficulty of the brand new constructing with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. Chinese language international minister Wang Yi additionally mentioned the subject — and a separate UK plan to construct a brand new embassy in Beijing — with British international secretary David Lammy in London final week, in keeping with folks briefed on the diplomatic talks.
Lately, UK safety officers, significantly MI5, have grow to be extra vocal about alleged Chinese language espionage.
The Tower Hamlets native authority, which has jurisdiction over the historic Royal Mint Court docket website, final yr refused to approve the mission, partly on safety grounds. UK housing secretary Angela Rayner later took management of the planning resolution and can make the ultimate willpower.
The Metropolitan Police beforehand voiced opposition to the proposed plans over issues that anti-China protests would have an effect on site visitors however later withdrew its objections.
In January, Lammy and UK dwelling secretary Yvette Cooper expressed assist for the mission, saying nations needed to have diplomatic presences.
The intervention adopted a visit to China by UK chancellor Rachel Reeves geared toward boosting financial ties. The journey marked the primary go to to China by a British chancellor since 2017 and got here as Starmer’s authorities stepped up diplomatic engagement with Beijing.
The issues raised in Washington by the Home China committee come because the Trump administration debates whether or not to approve a deal between the UK and Mauritius that has implications for a vital joint US-UK army base on Diego Garcia, one of many islands within the Chagos Archipelago.
The US is frightened concerning the potential for China to spy at Diego Garcia, which is a crucial transit level for nuclear submarines and bombers.
