Today, I spoke at the Planning Inquiry in Tower Hamlets to oppose the Chinese governmentās mega-embassy at Royal Mint Courtāa project that threatens public safety, local security, and fundamental rights.
Applicantās lawyer have argued that personal experiences of repression are not ārelevantā to planning. But this isnāt just about bricks and mortarāitās about who is being given power in our community. Others covered security risks and planning concerns. My role was to speak about what this embassy represents: fear, surveillance, and transnational repression.
On February 8th, thousands protested at the site. Police had to shut down roads, call reinforcements, and adjust their security plan in real time. This site cannot handle large-scale protests, and they wonāt stop if the embassy is built.
In 2022, after a protest at the Chinese embassy, I was followed. I changed my route, crossed streets, stopped at a private clinic. He was still there. These tactics are already happeningāa mega-embassy in London would only make it worse.
This isnāt just about a building. Itās about whether we allow an authoritarian state to expand its influence here.
Weāll be back at Royal Mint Court on March 15th. Join us.
#NoChinaMegaEmbassy #RejectRepression #TowerHamlets #StopTransnationalRepression