Furious China turns off water for UK diplomats as bitter embassy row explodes

By John Varga, World News Reporter

Xi Jinping is keen to get planning permission for his new London embassy (Image: Getty)

China is cutting off water supplies to British diplomats in Beijing, as it seeks to pressure Keir Starmer's government into granting planning permission for its "mega-embassy" in London, it has been claimed. Beijing's attempts to secure approval for its new embassy at Royal Mint Court have so far been rebuffed by the government due to serious security fears.

However, there is growing expectation 10 Downing Street will cave in to Chinese pressure and allow the massive complex to be built in the near future. Officials in Whitehall claim that water to the British Embassy in Beijing is cut off for hours on end and that staff are having to use a squash court as a temporary office due to their crumbling surroundings. The UK Foreign Office awarded a £100 million contract in 2020 for renovation work to be carried out on the building.

The British Embassy in Beijing (Image: Wikipedia)

Beijing, though, has so far refused to carry out the work, while its own plans remain in limbo.

A source told MailOnline: "Sometimes our water supply goes 'missing' which is an interesting way of putting it. They are using our embassy to force us to do something about their embassy. Our one needs a complete remake. It is neglected. This behaviour is not very sporting or diplomatic."

The embassy row goes back to 2018, when China purchased the 215,280 square foot London site for £255 million from the Crown Estate.

Security officials raised concerns about the land's close proximity to sensitive underground communications in the Square Mile.

Hong Kong dissidents living in the UK also expressed concerns that the new Embassy would be used as a base to track them down.

Tower Hamlets council rejected the plans for the Embassy in 2022, but they have since been re-submitted.

Former housing secretary Angela Rayner launched a review of the application last year, with the aim of making a final decision.

Her replacement Steve Reed is expected to grant permission soon, prompting a furious response from China critics.

Tory MP Iain Duncan Smith accused the Labour government of "kowtowing" to Beijing.

The latest twist in the long-running saga follows the collapse of the trial of two men accused of spying for China, after the government decided to withhold crucial evidence.