Minister dismisses US misgivings over Chinese 'super embassy' in London - as Tories warn of 'espionage base'

A minister has dismissed reported US misgivings about plans for a Chinese "super embassy" near London's financial districts.

Peter Kyle told Sky News' Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips that security concerns will be "taken care of assiduously in the planning process".

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According to The Sunday Times, the White House has warned Downing Street against the proposed massive embassy at Royal Mint Court.

The site is between financial hubs in the City of London and Canary Wharf and close to three data centres, raising concerns about espionage risk.

Asked for the government's view on the risk, Mr Kyle said: "These issues will be taken care of assiduously in the planning process.

"But just to reassure people, we deal with embassies and these sorts of infrastructure issues all the time.

"We are very experienced and we are very aware of these sorts of issues constantly, not just when new buildings are being done, but all the time."

He added that America and Britain "share intelligence iteratively" and if they raise security concerns through the planning process "we will have a fulsome response for them".

However, shadow home secretary Chris Philp said he shared the US's concerns.

He told Trevor Phillips: "I agree with the United States. We think it is a security risk in the government.

"The Conservatives were very clear. We should not be allowing the Chinese to build the super embassy. It is likely to become a base for their pan-European espionage activities."

He added that underneath the sites are cables connecting the City of London to Canary Wharf and these could be intercepted.

Sky News has contacted the Chinese embassy for comment.

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China has been attempting to revise plans for the Royal Mint building, opposite the Tower of London, since purchasing it in 2018.

The proposal for the embassy, which would be China's largest in Europe, was previously rejected by Tower Hamlets council in 2022.

However, Beijing resubmitted it in August after Labour won the election, and the plans were "called in" by Angela Rayner, the deputy prime minister and housing secretary.

It means that an inspector will be appointed to carry out an inquiry into the proposal, but the decision ultimately rests with central government rather than the local authority.

Two large protests were held at the site in February and March, which organisers claimed involved thousands of people.