China lashes out after UK delays decision on its massive London embassy project again

Tensions between the United Kingdom and China have reached a boiling point after Beijing issued a sharp warning over London’s continued delays in approving China’s proposed “mega embassy.”

Beijing’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused the UK government of “acting in bad faith” after Housing Secretary Steve Reed announced that the final decision on the long-delayed embassy project would be pushed back yet again, this time until 10 December 2025.

Speaking in Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian condemned the UK’s move, saying it showed “disregard for contractual spirit” and “a lack of integrity.” Lin said China had acted with “the utmost sincerity and patience,” but warned that Britain must “immediately fulfil its obligations” or “bear all consequences.”

Downing Street has downplayed the confrontation. A spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir Starmer insisted the embassy decision was “quasi-judicial and independent of the rest of government,” denying any political interference.

The diplomatic clash adds another layer of strain to the already tense relationship between the two nations — a relationship further tested by the recent collapse of a high-profile espionage trial involving two Britons accused of spying for China. Critics have suggested the government may have quietly intervened in the case to ease tensions with Beijing, though officials have rejected that claim outright.

The proposed Chinese embassy, which would span 20,000 square metres near the Tower of London, has been at the centre of political and security debates since Beijing bought the £255 million site in 2018. Tower Hamlets Council initially blocked the project in 2022, citing local and security objections.

Since Labour came to power, China has resubmitted its application. President Xi Jinping personally raised the issue with Starmer during a phone call in August 2024 and again at the G20 summit that November. Starmer confirmed at the time that the UK had “called in” the application for central review.

However, the process has dragged on. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, then housing secretary, was replaced by Reed days before a key decision deadline in September 2025. China later redacted parts of its building plans, citing security concerns, prompting yet another delay.

Meanwhile, senior Conservative MPs have accused ministers of misleading Parliament by allegedly offering China private assurances that the project would be approved. The government has denied any such commitment.

Adding to the diplomatic tension, Oliver Robbins, head of the Foreign Office, travelled to China this week to discuss both the London embassy project and Britain’s own stalled refurbishment plans for its embassy in Beijing — work that China has refused to authorise until its own project proceeds.

For Starmer, who has sought to stabilise relations and attract foreign investment for Britain’s infrastructure, the row could not come at a worse time. His government faces mounting pressure from both security hawks and pro-business factions. Any perception of weakness toward Beijing risks political backlash at home, while outright rejection of the embassy could deepen the diplomatic rift.

The embassy saga encapsulates the uneasy balancing act facing the UK — a battle between national security concerns, local planning laws, and the need for pragmatic diplomacy in an increasingly complex global landscape.

As the new December deadline looms, neither side shows signs of backing down. Beijing continues to demand immediate approval, while London maintains that due process must run its course. Whether the project is eventually built or permanently blocked, one thing is clear: the “mega embassy” has already become a powerful symbol of the UK’s fragile and increasingly fraught relationship with China.