On January 20, 2026, the UK government gave the green light for the construction of a sprawling new Chinese embassy in the heart of London, a decision that has ignited fierce debate and drawn attention from across the political spectrum. The project, dubbed the 'Super Embassy,' will be the largest Chinese diplomatic mission in Europe, covering a massive 20,000 square meters and including 208 rooms along with a secret underground basement. The embassy will be built at the historic Royal Mint Court, a site acquired by China in 2018 for 225 million pounds (roughly 303 million USD, or nearly 8,000 billion VND), according to The Jakarta Globe.
The approval, signed off by UK Home Secretary Steve Reed after eight years of legal wrangling and bureaucratic delays, has not come without controversy. Lawmakers from several parties, local residents, and activists have all voiced concerns that the embassy could serve as a hub for espionage and surveillance targeting both British interests and Chinese dissidents living in exile. The proximity of the site to sensitive underground financial data cables has only heightened these anxieties.
Protesters wasted no time making their voices heard. On January 18, hundreds gathered at Royal Mint Court, chanting slogans such as 'No giant Chinese embassy,' while prominent opposition figures like Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch joined the demonstration. Critics argue that the United Kingdom's approval of such a massive foreign diplomatic presence sends a signal of weakness, suggesting the country might be willing to compromise on security to maintain economic ties with Beijing.
"We are not trading security for economic access," insisted Dan Jarvis, the UK’s Minister for Security, in response to mounting criticism. Helena Kennedy, a human rights lawyer and Labour member in the House of Lords, was even more blunt, declaring, "We cannot reinforce the dangerous notion that Britain will continue to make concessions—such as permitting a mega-embassy—without reciprocal respect for the rule of law or equivalent gestures." According to The Jakarta Globe, local residents have pledged to continue their fight, with some planning to take legal action to challenge the decision.
Security agencies have not been silent on the matter. Both MI5, the UK's domestic intelligence service, and GCHQ, the government’s electronic intelligence agency, have repeatedly warned about Chinese espionage operations targeting British officials and companies. In November 2025, MI5 issued a direct warning to Members of Parliament, revealing that Chinese agents were making "targeted and widespread efforts" to approach and recruit individuals through LinkedIn and various front companies. These warnings have fueled public and political skepticism about the embassy’s true purpose.
Despite the uproar, the UK government maintains that all necessary precautions have been taken. In a joint letter to ministers, MI5 Director Ken McCallum and GCHQ Director Anne Keast-Butler stated, "As with any foreign embassy on UK soil, it is unrealistic to expect that all potential risks can be eliminated." However, they added, "The coordinated effort between UK intelligence agencies and government departments to develop a national security risk mitigation package for this site is, in our assessment, professional, thorough, and proportionate." They also pointed out that consolidating China’s seven current diplomatic outposts in London into a single location actually presents "clear security advantages."
The government further clarified that, "No national security agency has raised concerns or objected to the proposal based on the site's proximity to underground cables or other infrastructure." Prime Minister Keir Starmer has tried to strike a delicate balance, emphasizing that while national security is non-negotiable, the UK must also maintain diplomatic dialogue and cooperation with China. The embassy approval is widely seen as paving the way for an upcoming visit by a UK Prime Minister to China—the first since 2018—and possibly for the expansion of the British embassy in Beijing.
China, for its part, has expressed frustration over the prolonged delays. Beijing has accused the UK of "constantly complicating and politicizing the issue," citing the more than seven years it took to get the project off the ground. Chinese officials have categorically denied all allegations of espionage, dismissing them as "pure fabrication and malicious slander." The embassy’s completion is expected to be a symbol of China’s growing diplomatic footprint in Europe, and its location—just a stone’s throw from the Tower of London—carries undeniable symbolic weight.
Notably, the debate over the Chinese embassy comes at a time when diplomatic relations between China and its neighbors are also in the spotlight. On January 24, 2026, a ceremony in Beijing marked the 76th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and China, attended by senior officials from both countries. Vietnamese Consul General Bui Nguyen Long highlighted the "comrades and brothers" spirit that has characterized the relationship, emphasizing its significance for peace, stability, and sustainable development in the region. Wang Wen, head of the Foreign Affairs Office in Chongqing, echoed these sentiments, underscoring the value of enduring cooperation and the strategic importance of deepening ties.
Economic, trade, and investment links between Vietnam and China have flourished, with Vietnam now ranking as Chongqing’s top trading partner within ASEAN. Both sides have committed to further strengthening their partnership, aiming for even more robust, stable, and mutually beneficial cooperation in the years ahead.
The contrasting scenes—protesters braving the London cold to oppose a new embassy, and diplomats in Beijing celebrating decades of partnership—capture the complexity of China’s international relations in 2026. For the UK, the decision to approve the Super Embassy is a calculated gamble, balancing the imperatives of national security, economic interest, and diplomatic engagement. As the embassy rises near the historic Royal Mint, it will no doubt remain a lightning rod for debate over how Britain and the West engage with an increasingly assertive China.
With the dust still settling on this controversial decision, all eyes are on the next moves—both in London and Beijing—as the UK and China navigate a relationship that is as fraught as it is vital.