A decision on China’s large embassy in London is expected this Monday or Tuesday. Chinese and British officials in Beijing are waiting anxiously. The plan has been stuck since 2018 but is now likely to get approval. China bought the Royal Mint Court site near the Tower of London for £255m to build its biggest embassy in Europe. The deal was arranged when Boris Johnson was foreign secretary. Earlier, a local council denied planning permission, blocking the project. This caused tension as Beijing saw it as bad faith by London. China made the embassy issue a priority in UK-China talks. Chinese leader Xi Jinping spoke about it directly with UK leader Keir Starmer in August 2024. Once approved, the embassy green light could help smooth relations before Starmer's expected China visit in late January. Starmer would be the first UK prime minister to visit China since 2018. MPs oppose the embassy, but UK security services say they can manage espionage risks. Protests continue around the embassy site, supported by local residents and Chinese diaspora communities who oppose expanded Chinese presence in London. The Foreign Office said the decision will be made independently by the Secretary of State and that national security remains a priority during review. Despite challenges, officials say the approval could unlock further cooperation, especially in AI and trade deals.