The US is concerned about the plan of the Chinese embassy in London

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The White House expressed concern about the Great Britain’s government to enable China to build a large embassy in London, which, according to security officials, would be a risk of sensitive communication infrastructure serving the city.

“The United States is deeply concerned about the provision of China’s potential access to the sensitive communication of one of our closest allies,” said a senior US clerk.

China He asked for permission to build a new embassy in London at the Royal Mint Court on the edge of the city of London, the financial district of the capital of Great Britain. A relationship with an area of ​​20,000 m2 would be over 20 times greater than the current Beijing embassy in Marylebone and would be the greatest embassy in Beijing in Europe.

Some US security officials and Great Britain also aroused concern about the plan because of the proximity of the site to the sensitive center of critical communication cables.

Sir Richard Dearlove, former head of the British Secret Intelligence Service, told the article on Sunday and that the presence of cable networks near the proposed embassy is a “real problem” because Chinese intelligence services would be able to use sensitive communication lines “impunity”.

The American official said that Washington expected all decisions to be made for the interests of national security in the USA and Great Britain, and “after thoroughly alleviating according to the recommendations and approved by counter-intelligence specialists.”

The United Kingdom belongs to the Five Eyes network and the collection, which also includes the US, Australia, Canada and New Zealand-What means that threats to British communication are a problem for Washington.

The intervention of the White House is the second known example of Trump’s administration, which raises concerns about China in Great Britain. At the beginning of this year, President Donald Trump submitted silent approval of the contract, which Great Britain signed with Mauritius about the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands. This happened despite the perceived Chinese security threats for Diego Garcia, atol on the islands where the US and Great Britain have a common military base. He approved the contract despite the fears expressed by some of his officials.

In Great Britain, the Conservative Party of the Opposition called on the work of work to reject the plan.

Chris Philp, Secretary of the Interior of Shadow, said that the side – which Beijing bought in 2018 – was a “risk of security” for the government, taking into account its proximity to three data centers near Canara Wharf and the city of Square Mile.

“It is very likely that the Chinese would use it to organize espionage.

Peter Kyle, secretary of science and technology, said that if people raise security problems, this would be solved in the planning process.

The plan was rejected by the Local Bmaków Tower Hamlets Council in 2022 on the basis of security and due to the potential impact on residents. Last year he was called to review by Angela Rayner, a housing secretary.

. The project has now been revived After personal pressure from President XI Jinping from China during a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. The Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi also raised this issue with the Secretary of Foreign Affairs David Lamma during a visit to London this year.

Some officials of Great Britain believe that the approval of the embassy can calm the British-Chinese relations, which from the time when the British government has taken control of the Chinese Stalowa tab in northeastern England.

The British embassy in Washington refused to comment. The US intervention was first reported by the Sunday Times of London.