Photo: Screenshot of the Chinese Embassy statement

"We strongly deplore the UK side's repeated postponement of the decision on the planning application for the new Chinese Embassy project," a spokesperson with Chinese Embassy in the UK said in a statement published on the embassy website on Tuesday local time. 

The spokesperson made the remarks when asked to comment on a question related to the reports that the UK Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has circulated a letter announcing that it has decided to further postpone the decision on the planning application for the new Chinese Embassy project from December 10 to January 20, 2026, because it needs to invite comments from relevant parties on the representations made by the FCDO and the Home Office as well as other parties. 

"We strongly urge the UK side to approve our planning application quickly to avoid further undermining the mutual trust and cooperation between the two sides," the spokesperson said in the statement. 

Global Times