A proposal to approve a mega Chinese Embassy in central London has triggered serious concerns over national security, political interference, and surveillance risks, prompting calls for the Government to halt the plan.

Security experts and Western intelligence agencies have long warned that China poses a systemic and persistent threat to democratic nations, particularly through cyber espionage, political influence operations, and coercive diplomacy.  Key concerns are:

• Espionage and interference
  UK and US intelligence agencies have repeatedly warned of Chinese efforts to recruit insiders, influence political debate, and interfere in democratic institutions. MI5’s 2022 alert on parliamentary infiltration underlines the scale of the risk.
• Military–civil fusion
  Chinese law requires companies and citizens to cooperate with state intelligence services. This has already led to the UK banning Huawei from its 5G network and recent concerns over hidden “kill switches” in Chinese-manufactured transport.
• Surveillance risk at the heart of London
  China operates one of the world’s most extensive surveillance states. Establishing its largest embassy in a prime London location, immediately adjacent to the underground data connections between the City of London and Canary Wharf, raises obvious concerns about monitoring, intelligence gathering, and proximity to critical infrastructure.
• Scale of the Proposed Mega-Embassy Complex and its Secret Rooms As a foreign embassy, the building complex will not be subject to scrutiny by the UK Government once approved, hence it is critical that decision is taken NOW to stop it happening before it is too late.
• Diplomatic coercion
  China has reportedly delayed approval for urgent repairs to the UK Embassy in Beijing while the London embassy decision remains unapproved — an example of China’s methodology of political leverage to achieve its aims.
• China Cannot be Trusted
  A good example being China’s breach of the Sino-British Joint Declaration on Hong Kong intended to provide a “one country two system” basis for 50 years. There are other examples. Even diplomats of China’s regional neighbours,  when visiting their larger neighbour, for surveillance-avoidance reasons will hold confidential discussions in open spaces, not in their hotel rooms or assigned meeting rooms.
• Authoritarian long-term strategy and No. 1 Policy
  Unlike democratic states, China faces no electoral constraints. Its long-term approach includes influencing universities, cultivating future political leaders, and embedding influence within institutions over decades. China’s is a long game to achieve global supremacy on its terms and for the Chinese Communist Party to remain in place at all costs.

A decision of this magnitude having clear national security implications, must not be taken behind closed doors and should be subject to full public scrutiny and open parliamentary debate and vote (no whip).

This is not routine diplomacy. Placing China’s largest embassy in the heart of London creates long-term security risks that cannot be ignored. National security must come before trade figures or political convenience.

It is imperative for the Government to reject the proposal and prioritise the safety, sovereignty, and democratic integrity of the United Kingdom.

If you share these concerns please sign this petition opposing approval of the mega Chinese Embassy in London.