China’s London Embassy—or a Silent Spy Hub?

A detailed investigation by Britain’s Telegraph newspaper has sparked serious concern in the United Kingdom after revealing plans for China’s new “mega-embassy” in central London that include a vast underground complex hidden from public view.

According to the report, the site would contain a network of 208 rooms beneath the embassy, including a particularly sensitive room positioned directly next to critical fiber-optic communication cables that carry financial transactions and private digital messages for millions of users.

Architectural drawings reviewed by the newspaper suggest the underground facility was intentionally designed to avoid scrutiny, raising alarm among security experts and policymakers.

The report also indicates that the plans include space for advanced computer systems, fueling fears the embassy could be used for intelligence-gathering or espionage activities rather than solely diplomatic purposes.

The revelations have intensified debate within Britain over national security, infrastructure vulnerability, and the risks associated with allowing foreign diplomatic missions to operate near essential communications networks, placing pressure on UK authorities to reassess how such projects are reviewed and approved.