UK delays decision on China's new embassy in the UK

The UK government has extended the deadline for deciding whether to approve the construction of China's largest embassy in Europe in London to October.

China plans to build a new ambassador's residence on the site of a 200-year-old building near the Tower of London, but the plan has been put on hold for three years due to opposition from many groups in the UK.

Several politicians from the UK and the US have also warned the government not to allow China to build a consulate there.

DP9, an advisory company representing the Chinese government responsible for the planning application, said on Friday that its client believes it is inappropriate to provide complete internal layout diagrams. The government had previously asked why multiple areas were covered in the submitted drawings.

DP9 wrote in a letter to the government: "The applicants believe that the uncovered drawings are sufficient to demonstrate the main use. In this case, we consider it unnecessary and unsuitable to provide more detailed internal floor plans or details."

The scheme submitted to the local council shows that some rooms (including the basement area) are marked as "blacked out for security reasons".

The proposed embassy complex will include office areas, a large underground space, a dormitory that can accommodate 200 staff members, and a new tunnel connecting the main building to the auxiliary buildings.

Before the UK government decided to extend the deadline, the UK embassy said earlier this month that claims that the building near the financial district of London might have "secret facilities" for harming British national security were "baseless defamation".

The UK Department for Housing replied last Friday that the original deadline of September 9 would be postponed to October 21 to allow more time to consider responses from all parties.

The Chinese Embassy in the UK expressed "serious concern" about the UK government's response.

The embassy statement said that the host country has "international obligations" to support the construction of diplomatic institutions. "The Chinese side urges the UK to fulfill its obligations and approve the planning application as soon as possible," it said.

The Chinese government had already purchased the old Royal Mint site in 2018, but its application was rejected by the local council in 2022 due to security concerns.

Last year, China had requested UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to intervene. Subsequently, the central government of Starmer took over the approval authority for the project.

Source: News Agency

Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1841260222793865/

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