Secret Mitigation Measures for Critical Cables Near China’s New London Embassy

The UK Government approved, in secret, precautionary measures to protect critical fibre-optic cables that run adjacent to the proposed Chinese diplomatic complex at Royal Mint Court. The approvals were made three months before the Labour government formally approved the embassy’s planning application, and the Home Office did not inform the Foreign Office or the department handling the planning process. The measures, described only as actions to “increase the resilience” of the cables, could involve encryption, relocation or other technical defences and are expected to cost “probably in the low seven figures.”

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A 2019 multi-agency intelligence assessment identified the cables near the site as a national-security concern. In January 2023, The i Paper reported that the diplomatic complex could enable Chinese officials to access the London Internet Exchange (Linx) cables that carry data used by banks and other critical services. Throughout the planning review, neither the Home Office nor the Foreign Office raised concerns about the proximity of the cables.

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• Shabana Mahmood, Home Secretary – authorised the precautionary measures on 19 November 2023.

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• Steve Reed, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government – oversaw the planning application but was not briefed on the mitigations.

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• Dan Jarvis, Security Minister – communicated that extensive measures had been taken to protect sensitive data.

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• MI5 – briefed MPs, including Speaker Lindsay Hoyle, on espionage risks.

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• Former security official – provided an estimate of mitigation costs and cautioned that measures would not eliminate espionage attempts.

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• 2019 – Intelligence report flags nearby cables as a security risk.

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• Jan 2023 – Media report highlights potential for cable access.

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• 19 Nov 2023 – Home Secretary approves “precautionary and preventative measures.”

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• Early Feb 2024 – Government formally approves Beijing’s embassy plans.

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• Jan 2024 – New Labour government “calls in” the planning process.

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• Mar 2024 – Residents launch judicial review; High Court rules mitigation costs are outside the review’s scope.

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• The cables form part of the London Internet Exchange (Linx) and support daily banking operations.

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• Estimated mitigation expense: low seven-figure pounds, to be borne by the UK government.

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• Dan Jarvis said security issues “are not new to the Government or the intelligence community” and that “we have acted to increase the resilience of cables in the area through an extensive series of measures to protect sensitive data.”

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• The Home Office argued that seeking a cost contribution from China was “both appropriate for those measures to be undertaken, and for the Government to pay for them,” citing national-security constraints.

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• The Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government maintained that there was “no suggestion that lawful use of the Embassy would interfere with the cables.”

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Residents of Royal Mint Court, supported by local MPs, contend that the secret mitigations bypassed normal planning scrutiny and that the embassy has been described as a “spy base.” They argue the lack of inter-departmental communication undermines accountability.

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• The High Court excluded mitigation-cost assessments from the judicial review, creating uncertainty about the full financial impact.

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• The precise technical nature of the mitigations remains classified, preventing independent verification.

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• Cost estimates vary, with a former official citing “low seven figures” while the government has not disclosed an exact figure.

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• “that she was under no legal or other duty to communicate her decision” — Shabana Mahmood, Home Secretary

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• “both appropriate for those measures to be undertaken, and for the Government to pay for them” — Home Office spokesperson

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• “It isn’t going to stop attempted espionage.” — Former security official

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• “We have acted to increase the resilience of cables in the area through an extensive series of measures to protect sensitive data.” — Dan Jarvis, Security Minister

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The proximity of critical internet infrastructure to a foreign diplomatic compound raises concerns about potential espionage, the integrity of financial communications, and the financial burden of undisclosed protective measures.

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The High Court’s ruling limits the current judicial review, but parliamentary briefings by MI5 and further inquiries by the Home Office are expected as the government finalises the mitigation programme and assesses its long-term security impact.

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