Sensemaker Is China’s new London ‘super-embassy’ a threat?
Jan 20, 2026
Nigel Inkster, a former senior security official and advisor at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, dives into the controversial proposal for a new Chinese embassy in London. The discussion raises serious concerns about potential cyber threats and espionage activities, particularly given the embassy's proximity to critical infrastructure. Inkster also explains how this embassy could streamline diplomatic operations and what it signifies about UK-China relations, sparking a debate on the implications for national security and monitoring the Chinese diaspora.
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Large Embassy Sparks Security Alarm
- China proposes a 20,000 sq m embassy at the former Royal Mint that would be the largest in Europe.
- Its central location and scale have prompted MPs and protesters to warn of security risks and political signaling.
Consulate Incident Illustrates Risks
- Nigel Inkster and others pointed to an incident where pro-democracy demonstrators were dragged into a consulate and assaulted.
- The officials claimed diplomatic immunity and were removed from the UK, raising fears about embassy misuse.
Proximity To Fibre Raises Data Interception Fears
- Redacted planning documents show a large chamber near a fibre-optic cable feeding LINX, raising interception concerns.
- Security experts worry the site could enable data interception given China's cyber capabilities described by the NCSC.