Hackers, Secret Cables and Security Fears: The Explosive Fight Over China's New Embassy in the UK

The proposed new embassy of China in London has sparked a heated debate over security fears, human rights concerns, and the potential risks of espionage. The site, which is located near the Tower of London, has been the focus of opposition from various groups, including pro-democracy activists, Tibetans, Uighurs, and opposition politicians.

One of the main concerns is that the embassy could be used as a hub for Chinese intelligence gathering and surveillance in the UK. Carmen Lau, a 30-year-old former district councillor from Hong Kong, who fled to London in 2021 after being targeted by the Chinese government, argues that the UK should not allow China's "authoritarian regime" to have its new embassy in such a symbolic location.

"I've never been this close," admits Carmen. "We are outside an imposing structure that was once home to the Royal Mint and which China hopes it can develop into a new mega-embassy in London, replacing the far smaller premises it has occupied since 1877."

The building is ringed with CCTV cameras too. Carmen argues that the UK should not allow China's "authoritarian regime" to have its new embassy in such a symbolic location.

"One of her fears is that China, with such a huge embassy, could harass political opponents and could even hold them in the building," says Steve Tsang, a political scientist and historian who is director of the SOAS China Institute. "But he says some embassy staff would be tasked with monitoring Chinese students and dissidents in the UK and they'd also target UK citizens, such as scientists, business people, and those with influence, to advance China's interests."

The Chinese embassy has denied these allegations, saying that it is committed to promoting understanding and the friendship between the Chinese and British peoples and the development of mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.

Another fear is that the Royal Mint Court site could allow China to infiltrate the UK's financial system by tapping into fibre optic cables carrying sensitive data for firms in the City of London. The site once housed Barclays Bank's trading floor, so it was wired directly into the UK's financial infrastructure.

"It's easy for me to imagine what would happen if I was taken to the Chinese embassy," says Carmen. "In 2022, a Hong Kong pro-democracy protester was dragged into the grounds of the Chinese consulate in Manchester and beaten."

Back in 2019, mass protests had erupted in Hong Kong, triggered by the government's attempt to bring in a new law allowing for Hong Kong citizens to be extradited to China. China's response included a law that forced all elected officials in Hong Kong, including Carmen who was then a district councillor, to take an oath of loyalty to China.

"The regime just [tries] to eliminate any possible activists overseas," says Carmen. "Hong Kong issued two arrest warrants for her alleging 'incitement to secession and collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security'."

Mark Nygate, a resident of the area, fears that embassy staff will live in the 1980s-built flats at the back of the Royal Mint Court. "We don't want [the embassy] there because of demonstrations, because of the security risks, because of our privacy," he says.

Opponents of the embassy have already staged protests involving up to 6,000 people. Mostly, though, he fears an attack on the embassy - that could harm him and his neighbours.

"I'm not aware of any evidence that there are regular protests that block the road outside the current Chinese embassy… self-evidently, there are much larger protests outside a number of other countries' embassies and high commissions," says Tony Travers, a visiting professor in the LSE Department of Government.

The proposed new embassy is set to be decided by the government soon, with senior ministers signaling that they are in favour if minor adjustments are made to the plan. The decision has sparked concerns about the potential risks of espionage and human rights abuses.