Revealed: The secret room hidden beneath China's 'super embassy'
China is reportedly planning to build a secret underground room that could be used to spy on the UK at the site of its controversial 'super embassy' in
London.
Unredacted plans - unveiled by the Telegraph - supposedly shows a hidden room in the north west corner of the building, which is just metres away from a vital cable network connecting some of London's top financial sectors.
The triangular room measures up to 40 metres across and 2-3 metres deep and includes at least two air extraction systems, according to the newspaper, seemingly indicating it could house heat-generating equipment such as high tech computers.
It is part of a network of 208 secret rooms - a majority of which are hidden from the public in planning proposals - beneath Beijing's 'super-embassy', which is set to be built on the site of the
Royal Mint pending approval from Sir
Keir Starmer.
Downing Street is said to have proposed that the Prime Minister approves the plans before he visits China later this month in a bid to smooth over relations with president
Xi Jinping following a series of planning delays.
But there are fears the new embassy could be used as a 'spy centre', with some critics raising concerns that China could tap into the cables and eavesdrop on key information.
Documents also reveal that the outer wall of the chamber, lying directly next to the cables, would be demolished and rebuilt, further fuelling fears they could be tapped.
Security expert Professor Alan Woodward said this was a 'red flag' and having the cables so close to the building would be an 'enormous temptation' for China.
Last year, The Mail On Sunday revealed that planning documents for the embassy included 'spy dungeons' – two suites of basement rooms and a tunnel, with their purpose redacted for security reasons.
Diplomatic sources also revealed that a proposed 'spy campus' will provide on-site accommodation for more than 200 intelligence officers at the embassy.
Unredacted plans supposedly shows a hidden room in the north west corner of the building, which is just metres away from a vital cable network connecting London's top financial sectors.
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