Britain's government on Tuesday approved plans for a large new Chinese Embassy in central London, ending years of delay and controversy. The embassy will be Europe’s largest, located at Royal Mint Court near the Tower of London. The Chinese government bought this site in 2018 for £225 million. It will cover around 20,000 square metres and replace several smaller Chinese official buildings across London. The plan faced strong opposition from lawmakers, security experts, and activists. They warned the embassy could be used for spying and intimidating Chinese dissidents living in the UK. A key concern is the embassy’s closeness to underground fibre-optic cables that carry sensitive financial data between London’s financial districts. Reports say the complex will include 208 basement rooms near these cables. Protests against the project have continued for years. On Sunday, Conservative party leader Kemi Badenoch joined demonstrators at the site. She said, "We do not want a country that spies on our MPs (lawmakers) having this super-embassy right here." She added, "We know that we have to stand up to the abuses of China. And what worries me is that we have a government right now that seems to be scared of China." Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government had delayed the decision due to several recent cases of alleged Chinese spying and political interference. Starmer said that "National security is our first duty," and that intelligence agencies were deeply involved in the process. He also emphasized that Britain must keep diplomatic ties and dialogue with China. The UK government stated, "An extensive range of measures have been developed to manage any risks. Following extensive negotiations, the Chinese government has agreed to consolidate its seven current sites in London into one site, bringing clear security advantages." The approval is expected to allow Starmer's long-planned visit to China and the expansion of the UK embassy in Beijing. This visit would be the first by a British prime minister to China since 2018.