As the British government faces mounting calls to reject Beijing’s plans for a new Chinese embassy in London, a former head of MI5 has suggested that the proposed “super-embassy” could actually be “advantageous” to national security.
The planned embassy, set to be located at Royal Mint Court near the Tower of London, has sparked concerns over potential security risks. Critics fear the site’s 208 secret rooms and a hidden chamber situated near crucial financial data cables could be used for the detention of dissidents who have fled China for the UK.
However, Lord Evans, the former MI5 chief, believes that having a single, larger building might not necessarily be a disadvantage in security terms. He explained that the current dispersed nature of Chinese diplomatic premises across London could potentially pose more of a challenge for security services.
“Having a single building might in some ways not be a disadvantage in security terms,” Lord Evans told Times Radio. “It is a very big embassy, and I’m sure that appropriate security advice has been taken.”
The comments come as the government faces a deadline of 20 January to make a decision on whether to grant planning permission for the proposed “super-embassy.” Labour MPs have also voiced concerns, urging the government to reject the application over security fears and the potential for the embassy to be used to “step up intimidation” against dissidents.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch, who joined protesters outside the site on Saturday, called for the government to intervene and stop the plans, accusing the authorities of being “scared of China.”
The debate over the proposed embassy highlights the delicate balance between national security considerations and diplomatic relations with China. As the government weighs its options, the potential risks and benefits of the “super-embassy” will likely continue to be a subject of intense scrutiny and debate.
