British lawmakers on Tuesday raised fresh national security concerns over China’s proposed new embassy in London, following media reports that the planned complex would include more than 200 concealed rooms, including a so-called “hidden chamber.”
The issue was debated in Parliament ahead of a January 20 government deadline to decide on planning approval for the embassy, which Beijing intends to build near the Tower of London on the historic site of the former Royal Mint.
According to a report by The Daily Telegraph, which said it had obtained unredacted architectural plans, the proposed embassy would contain 208 secret rooms beneath the building. The plans reportedly include a concealed chamber located close to sensitive underground communications cables. The report also claims that China intends to demolish and rebuild a wall separating the cables from the embassy site.
If approved, the facility would become the largest foreign embassy in the United Kingdom by area. The project has faced years of delays, protests and mounting scrutiny, contributing to diplomatic frustration in Beijing.
Alicia Kearns, the Conservative Party’s shadow minister for the interior, warned MPs that the embassy could pose serious risks to Britain’s security and economy.
“This would give China a launch-pad for economic warfare against the United Kingdom,” Kearns said. “The government may say it was unaware of these secret rooms, and we will take that at face value. But it cannot now say it lacks the power to protect the country, our economy and our people.”
Responding on behalf of the government, Planning Minister Matthew Pennycook declined to comment directly on what he described as press speculation. He said authorities had sought additional clarification on previously redacted plans and would assess any new information that could be relevant to the planning decision.
“If new, potentially relevant information is brought to the department’s attention, it will be carefully considered,” Pennycook told Parliament.
Lawmakers also raised broader concerns, including the potential for increased surveillance of exiled Hong Kong activists and other dissidents living in the UK.
Pennycook acknowledged that China poses “a series of threats to UK national security” and said the government would continue to challenge those risks robustly. At the same time, he noted that China remains the world’s second-largest economy and the UK’s third-largest trading partner, underscoring the need for a “consistent and pragmatic approach” to economic engagement that does not compromise security.
Opposition to the proposed embassy has extended beyond Parliament, with activists planning a protest at the site on Saturday.
“I want my government to stand up to bullies, not reward them,” Labour MP Sarah Champion said. “We should be setting firm rules and limits to counter this behaviour, not granting an embassy that China so clearly wants.”
