Sky News and The Times both reported on the 20th that British Prime Minister Starmer is planning to visit China at the end of January 2026, which is expected to be one of his most significant diplomatic moves since taking office; meanwhile, the stalled project for a new Chinese embassy in London is also likely to receive formal approval following a 'green light' from MI5 and MI6.
According to The Times, the embassy is slated to be built at the former Royal Mint near the Tower of London, in a massive project described as a potential "super embassy"—possibly the largest diplomatic institution in Europe. The plan was previously blocked in 2022 over security and social concerns, with outsiders worrying that China might use the location for intelligence operations or to monitor dissidents overseas. The UK government later assumed final approval authority.
Sources revealed that MI5 and MI6 have recently given a positive assessment of the plan, and both the Home Office and Foreign Office will not oppose it. Insiders in Whitehall describe the approval as being at a "procedural" stage. The UK is expected to make a final decision before December 10.
Former MI6 chief Richard Moore also publicly supported approving the embassy in an interview last week, saying the UK should seek a "workable solution" that allows China to have proper diplomatic facilities in London, while also maintaining and developing the UK’s embassy interests in Beijing.
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Since taking office, Starmer's Labour government has actively sought to mend relations with China. In September this year, British prosecutors abruptly dropped a high-profile Chinese espionage case, raising suspicions that the government was trying to play down sensitive issues to avoid disrupting Sino-British economic interests.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry has repeatedly denied the relevant allegations, stating that claims of "China stealing British intelligence" are "completely fabricated."
Observers note that if Starmer’s visit goes ahead, it may signal a restart of high-level UK-China interactions and could open the door for resuming long-stalled bilateral cooperation.