The White House has sent strong warnings to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, telling him to stop China's plan to build a "super embassy" in London because of growing worries about national security. The issue centers around Beijing's ambitions to build what would be its largest diplomatic post in Europe at Royal Mint Court, which is located between London's City and Canary Wharf financial sectors.

China bought the planned embassy site in 2018, and it is in one of the most important parts of London's financial infrastructure. Three important data centers are next to the building, and essential communication cables that connect the capital's financial hubs run right above it. This proximity has set off alarm bells in Western intelligence services, and US officials are especially worried about the Chinese Communist Party's known history of spying on important infrastructure.