The British Labour government is set to announce the final result of the application for the “super embassy” of the Chinese Communist Party in London on January 20th. Ahead of the decision, the Telegraph recently revealed the “unabridged design drawings” of the project, unveiling plans for up to 208 hidden rooms to be constructed underground in the embassy complex. Some of these secret rooms are located just over a meter away from crucial fiber optic cables carrying the UK’s core financial data, sparking concerns about national security among bipartisan members of Parliament in the UK. Several groups are planning to hold protests.
According to the disclosed drawings, the underground facility is located beneath the former Royal Mint Seamen’s Registry building. One triangular-shaped room’s outer wall closely abuts Mansell Street, with fiber optic cables laid under pedestrian walkways being “just over a meter away”. The cables in question are operated by companies like BT Openreach and Verizon Business, responsible for transmitting financial data in and out of London’s financial hub and Canary Wharf, as well as connecting networks across the Atlantic to the United States.
The drawings also indicate that the hidden room is equipped with a “hot air extraction system”. Security expert Professor Alan Woodward from the University of Surrey analyzed that such ventilation facilities suggest the possible installation of “advanced computer equipment” generating significant heat, or involvement in intelligence surveillance purposes. He described this layout as a “dangerous signal”, pointing out that the critical cables are right at the doorstep, posing a huge temptation for any intelligence agency.
Alicia Kearns, the Conservative Party’s Shadow Minister for National Security, warned that approving the project is akin to allowing the Chinese Communist Party to launch an “economic war” in the heart of the UK’s infrastructure.
Luke de Pulford, the Executive Director of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), revealed to the media that several local groups and Hong Kong organizations will stage a demonstration this Saturday (17th), describing it as the “last chance to speak out”.
De Pulford stated that if the application is approved, local residents will seek judicial review. The court would have the authority to summon government officials and access internal documents, potentially turning any breach of legal commitments into a major political scandal.
Labour MP Sarah Champion stressed that multiple government departments and international partners have expressed concerns about this giant embassy, pointing directly at China (CCP) as the UK’s “hostile state”, exerting pressure internationally on the people of Hong Kong and Taiwan.
In addition, one member of Parliament mentioned that their constituents, wanted by the CCP and living in constant fear, worry about being forcibly taken into the “secret rooms” of the new embassy.
Despite escalating national security concerns, it is expected that Prime Minister Keir Starmer will still approve the project before his visit to Beijing at the end of this month to meet with Xi Jinping. There has been strong opposition within the Labour Party, with multiple backbenchers urging the Prime Minister to “stand up to bullies” rather than reward them.
Furthermore, following the exposure of the secret room diagrams, the White House expressed “deep concerns”, fearing that the CCP could use the facility to infiltrate critical UK infrastructure and threaten the data security of the Five Eyes alliance. US government officials criticized the British government for seemingly giving up all “leverage” in pursuit of a trade agreement.
On the other hand, reports indicate that the CCP took measures, including cutting off water and electricity to the British embassy in Beijing, to pressure the UK into approving the project.