China criticises UK for delaying ruling on new embassy

China accused Britain of lacking “credibility and ethics” after the UK government once again postponed a decision on Beijing’s proposal to build a new embassy in London.

Beijing’s plan to establish what would be its largest embassy in Europe, located near the Tower of London, has been on hold for three years amid objections from local residents, MPs, and Hong Kong pro-democracy activists in the UK.

The British government delayed its verdict once more last week, just days after ministers came under scrutiny over the collapse of a trial involving two men accused of spying for China.

In response, the Chinese embassy in London voiced its “strong concern and opposition” to the latest delay, which pushes the final decision back to 10 December.

“The UK has displayed a complete lack of contractual spirit, credibility and ethics,” the embassy said in a statement, accusing London of “repeatedly postponing approval under various pretexts and linking the project to unrelated issues, thereby constantly complicating and politicising the matter.”

British officials said the delay was due to holdups in receiving feedback from several government departments.

Some UK media outlets reported that London had previously offered assurances to Beijing regarding the project’s approval, but Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s spokesperson denied this, saying: “No such assurance could have been given, as the decision is part of a quasi-judicial process, independent from the rest of government.”

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