Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst MP is the Conservative Member of Parliament for Solihull West & Shirley, elected in 2024. He previously served as a British Army Medical Officer and barrister, and sits on the House of Commons Justice Committee.
The fast-paced nature of modern day politics and sheer volume of news events means many items, no matter how serious and consequential they are for our country, come and go.
They are then soon forgotten.
And so it is with the story of China’s planned mega-embassy in the heart of London. It was approved by the Government earlier this year, after months of legitimate warnings from security experts over the implications this would pose to Britain’s national security. But after its approval, the news cycle moved on and, with it, the attention of the public.
But months later, this matter remains more serious than ever, especially when one considers the underground facilities planned for beneath the complex, which were not made public during the planning process, and the close proximity it is to the critical communications infrastructure serving the City of London.
Given China’s record of transnational repression and cyber espionage, it is incredible that this was approved.
This decision is why Britain is long overdue for a more serious debate about its approach to the threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party and, in particular, the wishful distinction, often espoused by politicians, between economic engagement and national security. This is a position which is increasingly hard to sustain.
China is not simply another major trading partner. It is a revisionist power that seeks to reshape the international order in ways fundamentally at odds with Britain’s interests and values. Its actions in the South China Sea, its intimidation of Taiwan, its industrial-scale cyber operations, and its repression in Hong Kong are not isolated issues. They form part of a strategy to expand Beijing’s influence while weakening the resolve of liberal democracies.
Hong Kong activists and other Chinese dissidents living in Britain have repeatedly warned about intimidation and harassment on UK soil. We have already seen allegations of unofficial Chinese “police stations”, reports of bounties placed on pro-democracy campaigners overseas, and attempts to silence critics well beyond China’s borders.
When individuals who have sought refuge in Britain fear they could be monitored, intimidated, or targeted, because of the actions of a foreign state, this ceases to be a diplomatic issue. It becomes a matter of national security.
As the Member of Parliament for Solihull West & Shirley, I am proud to represent many members of the British National (Overseas) community. They chose Britain because they believed our country would uphold the freedoms and rule of law denied to them in Hong Kong.
Many sacrificed careers, homes and family connections to escape the steady dismantling of the rights guaranteed under the Sino-British Joint Declaration. They did so because Britain made them a promise.
That promise must now be honoured in full.
The BNO visa route has rightly provided sanctuary to more than 180,000 Hongkongers who have chosen to build new lives in the United Kingdom. Apart from giving Ukrainians refuge, it represents one of Britain’s proudest recent humanitarian commitments.
But offering a visa is only part of that commitment. We must also ensure those who have come here are able to live free from intimidation by the regime they left behind.
That means taking seriously credible concerns about foreign interference. It means ensuring our intelligence agencies and police have the powers and resources necessary to investigate transnational repression. It means protecting democratic campaigners, journalists, and community leaders, who continue to speak out for freedom in Hong Kong.
Above all, it means recognising that our China policy cannot be based upon wishful thinking.
Engagement where it is in Britain’s interests should continue. No serious policymaker advocates unnecessary confrontation. But engagement cannot come at the expense of our national security or, worse, our obligations to those who have placed their trust in this country.
The Chinese Communist Party has demonstrated, time and again, that it is prepared to use every instrument of state power – diplomatic, economic, technological, and informational – to advance its interests overseas.
Britain should respond with equal realism. That means strengthening our resilience against cyber threats, protecting critical national infrastructure, tightening scrutiny of strategic investments, supporting our intelligence services, and working more closely with allies who face similar challenges.
It also means standing unequivocally with the people of Hong Kong.
Their struggle is not a distant foreign policy concern. It is a reminder that liberty cannot be taken for granted. Many now live in our communities, contribute to our economy, and enrich our society. They deserve to know that Britain will take their security concerns seriously and not simply kowtow to China for quick financial enrichment.
Hence, China’s proposed embassy is about far more than one building in London; it is a test of whether Britain has fully grasped the nature of the challenge before us.
We should be confident enough to engage with China but clear-eyed enough to recognise when our security, sovereignty, and the promise we made to Hongkongers regarding safe refuge without intimidation, are at risk.
Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst MP is the Conservative Member of Parliament for Solihull West & Shirley, elected in 2024. He previously served as a British Army Medical Officer and barrister, and sits on the House of Commons Justice Committee.
The fast-paced nature of modern day politics and sheer volume of news events means many items, no matter how serious and consequential they are for our country, come and go.
They are then soon forgotten.
And so it is with the story of China’s planned mega-embassy in the heart of London. It was approved by the Government earlier this year, after months of legitimate warnings from security experts over the implications this would pose to Britain’s national security. But after its approval, the news cycle moved on and, with it, the attention of the public.
But months later, this matter remains more serious than ever, especially when one considers the underground facilities planned for beneath the complex, which were not made public during the planning process, and the close proximity it is to the critical communications infrastructure serving the City of London.
Given China’s record of transnational repression and cyber espionage, it is incredible that this was approved.
This decision is why Britain is long overdue for a more serious debate about its approach to the threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party and, in particular, the wishful distinction, often espoused by politicians, between economic engagement and national security. This is a position which is increasingly hard to sustain.
China is not simply another major trading partner. It is a revisionist power that seeks to reshape the international order in ways fundamentally at odds with Britain’s interests and values. Its actions in the South China Sea, its intimidation of Taiwan, its industrial-scale cyber operations, and its repression in Hong Kong are not isolated issues. They form part of a strategy to expand Beijing’s influence while weakening the resolve of liberal democracies.
Hong Kong activists and other Chinese dissidents living in Britain have repeatedly warned about intimidation and harassment on UK soil. We have already seen allegations of unofficial Chinese “police stations”, reports of bounties placed on pro-democracy campaigners overseas, and attempts to silence critics well beyond China’s borders.
When individuals who have sought refuge in Britain fear they could be monitored, intimidated, or targeted, because of the actions of a foreign state, this ceases to be a diplomatic issue. It becomes a matter of national security.
As the Member of Parliament for Solihull West & Shirley, I am proud to represent many members of the British National (Overseas) community. They chose Britain because they believed our country would uphold the freedoms and rule of law denied to them in Hong Kong.
Many sacrificed careers, homes and family connections to escape the steady dismantling of the rights guaranteed under the Sino-British Joint Declaration. They did so because Britain made them a promise.
That promise must now be honoured in full.
The BNO visa route has rightly provided sanctuary to more than 180,000 Hongkongers who have chosen to build new lives in the United Kingdom. Apart from giving Ukrainians refuge, it represents one of Britain’s proudest recent humanitarian commitments.
But offering a visa is only part of that commitment. We must also ensure those who have come here are able to live free from intimidation by the regime they left behind.
That means taking seriously credible concerns about foreign interference. It means ensuring our intelligence agencies and police have the powers and resources necessary to investigate transnational repression. It means protecting democratic campaigners, journalists, and community leaders, who continue to speak out for freedom in Hong Kong.
Above all, it means recognising that our China policy cannot be based upon wishful thinking.
Engagement where it is in Britain’s interests should continue. No serious policymaker advocates unnecessary confrontation. But engagement cannot come at the expense of our national security or, worse, our obligations to those who have placed their trust in this country.
The Chinese Communist Party has demonstrated, time and again, that it is prepared to use every instrument of state power – diplomatic, economic, technological, and informational – to advance its interests overseas.
Britain should respond with equal realism. That means strengthening our resilience against cyber threats, protecting critical national infrastructure, tightening scrutiny of strategic investments, supporting our intelligence services, and working more closely with allies who face similar challenges.
It also means standing unequivocally with the people of Hong Kong.
Their struggle is not a distant foreign policy concern. It is a reminder that liberty cannot be taken for granted. Many now live in our communities, contribute to our economy, and enrich our society. They deserve to know that Britain will take their security concerns seriously and not simply kowtow to China for quick financial enrichment.
Hence, China’s proposed embassy is about far more than one building in London; it is a test of whether Britain has fully grasped the nature of the challenge before us.
We should be confident enough to engage with China but clear-eyed enough to recognise when our security, sovereignty, and the promise we made to Hongkongers regarding safe refuge without intimidation, are at risk.