0:00
MPS have warned of alarm bells and
0:02
security fears over plans for potential
0:04
huge new Chinese Embassy in London it
0:06
comes after reports emerged that senior
0:08
cabinet ministers have intervened on
0:10
China's planning application to build a
0:12
vast new diplomatic premises near the
0:14
city of London so what's going on plans
0:16
for the embassy near the Tower of London
0:18
were originally rejected in 2022 by
0:21
Tower Hamlet's Council and Chinese
0:23
president Z Jinping has since raised it
0:25
with Cirus Dharma according to the
0:27
financial times foreign secretary David
0:29
Lammy and Home Secretary ofet Cooper
0:31
have now expressed support for the
0:33
proposed new embassy at the Royal Mint
0:35
Court they sent a joint letter to
0:36
England's planning inspectorate on
0:38
Tuesday the paper reported which stated
0:41
the importance of countries having
0:42
functioning diplomatic premises in each
0:44
other's capitals and revealed the Met
0:47
police have withdrawn their objection to
0:49
the scheme Lamy and Cooper also stressed
0:51
there would be required conditions for
0:53
the controversial 20,000 Square met site
0:55
to gain planning permission which
0:57
housing secretary and Deputy Prime
0:59
Minister and Lena would have to agree to
1:01
after she called in the application
1:03
China would have to agree to change a
1:04
small design element and to relinquish
1:06
The Diplomatic accreditation of seven
1:08
other premises throughout the UK Capital
1:11
this all comes shortly after Chancellor
1:12
Rachel Reeves embarked on a trip to
1:14
Beijing and Shanghai last week in the
1:16
first such visit since 2017 it was
1:19
framed by labor as important for
1:21
economic ties what's the reaction been
1:23
MPS have been quick to raise security
1:25
concerns over the revelations and
1:27
previous reports that the intelligence
1:29
services are worried about how close the
1:31
area is to critical communication cables
1:34
which could be susceptible to attack or
1:35
hacking the former Foreign Affairs
1:37
select committee chairwoman Alysia K has
1:39
called it a sad day when those at the
1:42
top of government prioritize pleasing
1:44
foreign dictators over British national
1:46
security Shadow housing secretary Kevin
1:48
Hollen rake told City am the government
1:50
should be fully transparent about why
1:52
the application was called in he argued
1:54
there are serious concerns about the
1:56
scale of the development the
1:57
implications for local residents
1:59
policeing and National Security the
2:01
government needs to decide whether it
2:02
will act in British or Chinese interests
2:05
and the liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs
2:06
spokesperson Callum Miller added this
2:09
news should set off serious alarm bells
2:11
for the UK's security Beijing has made
2:13
repeated efforts to steal our
2:14
information and interfere in Britain
2:16
deepening our concerns about the
2:18
government's cozying up to China in
2:19
recent days the government must take
2:21
urgent action to establish the risk and
2:23
be prepared to block the new Embassy if
2:26
necessary a government spokesperson told
2:28
the Financial Times National secur is
2:30
the first duty of government and is our
2:32
core priority throughout this process
2:34
they said the foreign Commonwealth and
2:35
development office and the home office
2:37
submitted written representations to
2:39
reflect these considerations and to note
2:41
the importance of all states having
2:43
functioning diplomatic premises in each
2:45
other's capitals while a spokesperson
2:47
for the Chinese Embassy in London also
2:49
told the newspaper that the resubmitted
2:52
planning application had taken into full
2:54
consideration of the UK's planning
2:56
policy and guidance as well as views of
2:58
all relevant parties they added that
3:00
host countries have the international
3:02
obligation to support and facilitate the
3:04
building of the premises of diplomatic
3:06
missions what do you think about the
3:08
proposed Chinese Embassy in London let
3:10
us know your thoughts in the comments
3:12
and follow C for all the latest
