Large-scale protests against China's “big giant” occurred in London | London
On Saturday, politicians and protesters expressed concerns that it could be used to “control” dissidents, with large crowds gathering outside the site of London's proposed New China's “giant Embrace”.
More than 1,000 people gathered outside the Royal Mint Court, the former headquarters of the British coin manufacturer near the Tower of London. The location will soon become a Chinese embassy.
China purchased the site and proposed to turn two hectares (five acres) of land into Europe's largest embassy.
The Tower Hamlets Council rejected the program's permission in 2022, citing a series of concerns, including the impact of protests on the spot. The Conservative government refused to intervene.
Beijing re-submitted the application after Labor came to power, and the government filed the application directly with Keir Starmer. Cabinet Ministers Yvette Cooper and David Lammy said they expressed support for the proposal and a local inquiry hearing will begin next week.
The final decision was Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner.
Those protesting, including many from Hong Kong, which seeks asylum in the UK, expressed concerns that the embassy could be used to “control” and illegally detain dissidents.
Tai, 50, is a carer, said: “We are from Hong Kong. We are worried that China will use this place to oppose us. In Hong Kong, we have a lot of experience in China, CPP, controlling freedom and democracy as well. Control over the people of Hong Kong. We all face this.”
He expressed concern that the embassy could be “controlled by the Chinese government of Hong Kong people living in the UK”, adding: “People leave Hong Kong because they are afraid of CPP.”
Another protester expressed similar concerns in the name of a 20-year-old mitochondria. “There is a great chance that the building will be used to detain Chinese dissidents who are arrested in non-legal ways on British land,” she said. “A huge bondage will make this happen.”
She held the blue and white Uyghur flag. “The Chinese government has imperialist interests in the areas where the land of East Turkey,” she said.
“There is a genocide among the Muslim people of the Turks in the East. They should not be oppressed. That's why I hold the flag because we are fighting the same authoritarian government.”
About halfway through the demonstration, police dragged a woman to a police car. A large group of protesters in black surrounded the van, trying to stop it from leaving, shouting “let it go.”
Another woman seemed to be uncomfortable and was seen lying on the rain-covered road.
Engineer Fred, 29, said the building could be used to “catch the embassy and espionage.”
“We are the beacon of freedom in the world. It's a pity to see this beautiful compound, our legacy, our pride, fall into the hands of the dictator.”
Many high-profile politicians, including Iain Duncan Smith, Tom Tugendhat and Labor MP Blair McDougall, also spoke with protesters. Former Security Minister Tugendhat said allowing the embassy to continue moving forward would be a “serious mistake”.
“It would be a very clear statement that our government has chosen the wrong side rather than defending and protecting the British people and our economic future.”
He said keeping the plan going would send a message to the world that the British government “has not learned the lessons of the past decade” and “just not listening”.
“The reality is that some people made a decision in 2010, 2013, and you could understand it at the time. You can see their hopes and optimism about it.”
“There is the same optimism in 2025? It's no longer optimism, it's just intentional ignorance.”