Britain failed in its obligations over ‘super embassy’, claims China

THE Chinese Government has accused Britain of failing to “fulfil its relevant obligation” after Beijing’s bid for a “super embassy” on the site of the old Royal Mint was blocked.

Chinese authorities were last week refused planning permission to build a vast new embassy on the 700,000 sq ft plot near Tower Bridge after local councillors voted unanimously against it.

The surprise decision came after vocal opposition from local residents and some Tower Hamlets council members who oversaw the decision.

The Chinese can still appeal against the decision with Housing Secretary Michael Gove. China’s foreign ministry yesterday accused the Government of failing in its “international obligation”, saying the embassy planning application had been “conducted in line with international norms and received consent from the UK side”.

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said: “It should be pointed out that host countries have the international obligation to facilitate and support the building of premises of diplomatic missions. The Chinese side urges the UK side to fulfil its relevant obligation.”

The public pressure from the Chinese adds to tensions between Westminster and Beijing. Last week, Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, declared that the “golden era” between the two countries was over. Beijing acquired the former Royal Mint land where it planned to build its embassy for £255m in 2018. It would be 10 times the size of its current embassy in Marylebone.

At last week’s planning hearing, residents warned it would put them at “heightened risk” of a terror attack.

Separately, developers have come under attack over plans to demolish the ITV Studios on London’s Southbank.

Mitsubishi and CO-RE want to replace it with a £400m 26-storey office tower. Michael Ball, of Save Our Southbank campaign group, said the development would generate 173,000 tonnes of carbon emissions during construction.