UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson secretly approved China's massive London super-embassy proposal in 2018, a move that was met with widespread criticism and is still shrouded in controversy. The proposal, which involves building a sprawling diplomatic complex on the site of the former Royal Mint Court in Mayfair, was seen as Beijing's largest overseas investment at the time.
The approval was given by Johnson while he was foreign secretary, despite concerns raised by local residents and politicians about the project's impact on the area. The Chinese government had purchased the 20,000 sq metre site for £255m in 2018, with plans to build a new embassy that would surpass existing diplomatic missions around the world.
Critics have accused Johnson of giving China an "favourable deal" without properly assessing the potential risks or consequences of approving the project. The decision has been met with skepticism by opposition leaders, who argue that Labour's assurances given to Beijing over the proposal were private and not publicly disclosed.
The project has been stuck in limbo for seven years, with local authorities refusing planning permission and the Conservative government declining to intervene. China has threatened to pull out of the deal if it is not approved, but Labour leader Keir Starmer has insisted that any decision on the embassy will be made through proper channels.
The controversy surrounding the proposal has raised questions about Johnson's dealings with China during his time in office. The case comes as China has refused to allow the refurbishment of the British embassy in Beijing while its own plans are in limbo, sparking concerns about the relationship between the two countries.
The UK government's handling of the situation has been widely criticized, with some accusing ministers of being too soft on China and others arguing that they have been unfairly targeted by Beijing. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains unclear whether the super-embassy project will ever come to fruition.
The approval was given by Johnson while he was foreign secretary, despite concerns raised by local residents and politicians about the project's impact on the area. The Chinese government had purchased the 20,000 sq metre site for £255m in 2018, with plans to build a new embassy that would surpass existing diplomatic missions around the world.
Critics have accused Johnson of giving China an "favourable deal" without properly assessing the potential risks or consequences of approving the project. The decision has been met with skepticism by opposition leaders, who argue that Labour's assurances given to Beijing over the proposal were private and not publicly disclosed.
The project has been stuck in limbo for seven years, with local authorities refusing planning permission and the Conservative government declining to intervene. China has threatened to pull out of the deal if it is not approved, but Labour leader Keir Starmer has insisted that any decision on the embassy will be made through proper channels.
The controversy surrounding the proposal has raised questions about Johnson's dealings with China during his time in office. The case comes as China has refused to allow the refurbishment of the British embassy in Beijing while its own plans are in limbo, sparking concerns about the relationship between the two countries.
The UK government's handling of the situation has been widely criticized, with some accusing ministers of being too soft on China and others arguing that they have been unfairly targeted by Beijing. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains unclear whether the super-embassy project will ever come to fruition.
. Like, what's next? A Chinese McDonald's in Trafalgar Square? 
Boris was basically asleep at the wheel when he gave that approval, and now we're dealing with a giant super-embassy that's gonna ruin Mayfair forever 
. The fact that Labour is all up in arms about it but can't seem to do anything is pretty cringeworthy 
. And China just kinda... threatens to pull out? 
Like, what kind of leverage does the UK have here? I'm guessing not much 
.
This whole thing is just a big mess. I mean, Boris Johnson approving a massive embassy deal without even looking at the pros and cons? That's not exactly the kind of transparency we expect from our PMs 
It's like they're trying to be buddies with Beijing without even doing their homework first. Not cool, Boris 
. Boris Johnson and his crew should've been more transparent about the whole thing from the get-go, all these secrets and private assurances? Not cool 
. Now we got China breathing down our necks and not getting any closer to building this embassy... it's like they're waiting for us to make a move 
And now it's stuck in limbo and China's threatening to pull out... what a mess! 
Can we just get some answers on this? Why hasn't the government stepped in yet? It's like they're being held hostage by Beijing. 
. The lack of transparency on this project is seriously unsettling, especially when you consider the huge impact it'll have on London's neighborhoods and local residents 
.
And now that Labour leader Keir Starmer is stepping in to address the situation, it's like déjà vu all over again 
. When will we get real answers about what really went down behind closed doors? 
. & btw, why cant london just get some planning permission already?! its been stuck in limbo 4 years now & thats just ridiculous 
this whole thing feels so frustrating... like the UK is playing both sides here and can't seem to make a decision 
which just makes it harder to know who to trust 
Not cool, mate. And now we're stuck with this massive super-embassy proposal that's been sitting on hold for years. It's like he's playing chicken with local residents and opposition leaders. 
Meanwhile, Labour is just trying to distance themselves from the whole mess. I don't get why they couldn't just come clean about their talks with China in the first place? Transparency would've helped a lot here. 
Boris Johnson is literally the WORST 
. It's like, what even is the point of having a government if they can't even be honest with us about their dealings with foreign countries? 
. That's just disgusting. They're more interested in lining their own pockets than doing what's best for the country 
. The UK government has no idea how to handle anything, and it's going to be interesting to see how this whole thing plays out 
. But I'm not holding my breath 
btw did u know that china's invested over £200b in africa since 2013? 
seems like a lot of money, but is it all good vibes? 
shouldnt they just spill the beans? 
7 years stuck in limbo is crazy, what's going on with these politicians? 
I mean, who would've thought that a £255m embassy deal could spark so much controversy? 
Boris Johnson's approval of the project as foreign secretary back then is still giving people the heebie-jeebies. 
The Labour party's concerns about the deal being private and not publicly disclosed are legit, you know? 
. The fact that Labour's secrets were kept hidden from the public is also super shady 
... I don't think we should be so quick to accept things without asking questions 
. And what about all the local residents who are affected by this project? Have they had a say in any of it? It seems like their voices are being ignored