China's 'super embassy' under construction is said to have hidden rooms along secret fiber optic cables

China's planned new embassy in London, England, has been revealed to have a hidden room close to secret communications cables. Unedited blueprints obtained by the British daily newspaper The Telegraph raise concerns that a hidden room will be placed right next to fiber optic cables that transmit sensitive financial data to London's financial district.

Uncovered: Secret room beneath Chinese embassy that poses threat to City

???????????? The Telegraph has obtained unredacted plans for China's proposed London “super-embassy,” revealing 208 underground rooms, including one concealed space just over a meter from critical communications infrastructure

Read the investigation below ⬇️ https://t.co/a78DTYAPOT pic.twitter.com/M1evlQbQLf

— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) January 13, 2026

Chinese UK 'Super embassy' to feature 'hidden chamber' alongside 'Britain's most sensitive communication cables', claims report — 'spy basement' plans cited as security concern, but true purpose unclear | Tom's Hardware
https://www.tomshardware.com/networking/chinese-uk-super-embassy-to-feature-hidden-chamber-alongside-britains-most-sensitive-communication-cables-claims-report-spy-basement-plans-cited-as-security-concern-but-true-purpose-unclear

China is planning to build a 'super embassy,' its largest diplomatic outpost in Europe, on the former Royal Mint site in East Smithfield, central London. The site will cover an area of 22,000 square meters, and since planning began under the previous Conservative government, the project has been the subject of constant controversy due to its proximity to highly sensitive communications infrastructure.

Blueprints obtained exclusively by the Telegraph reveal that the super embassy will have a total of 208 secret rooms built beneath it. What's particularly worrying is that one of the rooms will be located right next to Mansell Street, the financial district of London and home to the fibre optic cables that carry the internet to millions of users.

The Telegraph also claims that the blueprints show the installation of a powerful heat exhaust system, which suggests the installation of heat-generating equipment such as advanced computers used for intelligence activities.

Of even greater concern are plans to demolish and rebuild the chamber's underground outer walls, which would put Chinese officials just 1.7 metres from the fibre optic cables carrying British economic secrets.

Experts warn that such close proximity makes it possible to eavesdrop on the cables through physical contact or optical leakage, making them an attractive target for economic intelligence.

Alicia Kearns, a member of the British Conservative Party, has strongly criticised the plans for the super embassy, saying it would be like 'a launch pad for economic warfare at the heart of critical infrastructure.' However, Prime Minister Keir Starmer is reportedly expected to approve the embassy plan ahead of his planned meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the end of this month.

A City of London spokesman said national security experts were involved throughout the process and concerns had been addressed, but the move has reignited debate in the UK over national security risks.