As I see it | Starmer faces a hysterical backlash over new Chinese embassy

The worst features of UK politics and media, with help from ‘yellow-ribbon’ BN(O)ers, have been on full display over the ‘mega’ embassy plan

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The location proposed for the new Chinese embassy at the old Royal Mint Court is seen in London, United Kingdom, on January 14. Photo: EPA

Published: 8:30pm, 6 Feb 2026

While China emerges as an unmistakable superpower, “Great” Britain or the “United” Kingdom increasingly sounds like self-mockery. Much of the UK outside London is threatening to descend into developing-world status. There have been at least a dozen instances of English councils declaring bankruptcy since 2018, while one in four could be insolvent by 2027.

Diplomatically, it turns out the American cousin across the Atlantic thinks nothing of the so-called special relationship, as London repeatedly endures criticism and ridicule from US President Donald Trump’s White House. The United States may be Rome, but the UK is no Greece.

It’s understandable, then, that culturally, the British political and media elites seem to be suffering from both a deep-seated superiority complex and an inferiority complex, especially when it comes to China.

Hence, the combination of paranoia and hysteria over the Chinese “mega embassy” in London, and crazy claims about it being used as a superspy and surveillance hub, perhaps with a big torture dungeon in the basement. No doubt the Chinese are ready to use the backyard for executing dissidents, perhaps by bringing back death by a thousand cuts.

At least UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer sees sense in the Chinese plan. Then again, he had no choice but to approve the plan since he desperately needed to cut deals on his visit to Beijing, to hedge, like other middle powers in the West, against an outright imperialist US.

Furthermore, the UK is waiting for Chinese approval of its £100 million (US$135.8 million) plan to redevelop the British embassy in Beijing.

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}As I see it | Starmer faces a hysterical backlash over new Chinese embassy

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The worst features of UK politics and media, with help from ‘yellow-ribbon’ BN(O)ers, have been on full display over the ‘mega’ embassy plan

As I see it | Starmer faces a hysterical backlash over new Chinese embassy

The worst features of UK politics and media, with help from ‘yellow-ribbon’ BN(O)ers, have been on full display over the ‘mega’ embassy plan