UK government delays decision on China's super-embassy until January

"The government has delayed its decision on whether to approve China's super-embassy in London until January, when Keir Starmer is expected to visit Beijing. Ministers are expected to greenlight the controversial plans after formal submissions by the Home Office and Foreign Office raised no objections on security grounds. The Guardian reported last month that the security services had signalled to ministers that they could handle the security risks of the embassy, which would be China's biggest diplomatic outpost in the world."

"We had the golden age, which then flipped to an ice age. We reject that binary choice, he said, describing China as a nation of immense scale, ambition and ingenuity and a defining force in technology, in trade and global governance. Our response will not be driven by fear, nor softened by illusion. It will be grounded in strength, clarity and sober realism, Starmer said."

"The Chinese government has agreed to combine all its diplomatic premises in London into the Royal Mint Court site, which spans 20,000 sq metres near Tower Bridge in London. The final decision on whether to grant planning permission has been delayed to 20 January, around the time when the prime minister is planning to travel to China for bilateral talks. It is the third time ministers have deferred the decision."

The government postponed its decision on whether to approve China's consolidated embassy in London until 20 January, coinciding with the prime minister's planned China trip. Formal submissions from the Home Office and Foreign Office raised no security objections. Security services indicated they could manage risks associated with what would be China's largest diplomatic outpost. China agreed to consolidate seven diplomatic sites into the Royal Mint Court complex, a 20,000 sq metre site near Tower Bridge. Ministers have deferred the planning decision three times. The prime minister emphasised a balanced UK response to China, grounded in strength, clarity and sober realism.

Read at www.theguardian.com