China expected to get approval for London embassy this week

A decision on China's proposed 'mega embassy' at Royal Mint Court is expected this week and is widely expected to be approved on or before the 20 January deadline.

A decision on a long-running planning application for a large Chinese embassy at Royal Mint Court in London is expected this week. The proposal dates back to 2018, when China bought the site, and has become a prominent bilateral issue. The application was called in by ministers after the matter was raised between leaders and has been delayed several times. Local residents, members of the Chinese diaspora and some MPs continue to voice opposition and plan legal challenges. Key facts: - A decision is expected this week, with the secretary of state for housing, communities and local government set to decide on or by 20 January. - China bought the Royal Mint Court site in 2018, paying reported sums in the region of £255m to develop a large diplomatic complex. - Tower Hamlets council previously refused planning permission and the original application expired; ministers later called in the decision. - MPs across the political spectrum have expressed opposition, while security services have told officials they believe they can manage espionage risks tied to the site's proximity to data cables. - Local residents and groups from the Chinese diaspora, including Hongkongers, Tibetans and Uyghurs, have organised protests and are crowdfunding legal challenges to any approval. - Approval is seen by officials as potentially smoothing relations ahead of an expected UK prime ministerial visit to China at the end of January. Summary: If approved, the decision would remove a longstanding obstacle in UK-China relations and could ease the way for further diplomatic engagement by both governments. The move is also likely to keep the issue in public debate, as legal challenges and local protests are reported to be planned. The next formal step is the secretary of state's decision on or before 20 January, and the outcome may affect the context for an anticipated UK prime ministerial trip to China at the end of January.