UK Faces Critical Jan 20 Decision on China's 'Mega-Embassy' Plan

Ahead of a critical January 20 decision, Free Tibet and allied rights groups are urging the UK government to reject China’s proposed "mega-embassy" at Royal Mint Court. In an open letter to Housing Secretary Steve Reed, activists argue the 20,000-square-metre facility—ten times the size of a standard embassy—poses severe national security risks, citing MI5 warnings and proximity to sensitive infrastructure. Campaigners fear the site will become a hub for transnational repression against exiled communities. This proposal, previously rejected by Tower Hamlets Council in 2022, now faces renewed, intensified opposition as protests escalate across London.