There's an old saying: the righteous build, the wicked destroy. When evil loses to good, we celebrate. China's plan to construct its UK embassy weathered relentless attacks and delays, yet finally got its approval from the British government.
The saboteurs suffered a crushing defeat—yet they refuse to accept it and are already plotting their next moves. Who exactly are these saboteurs? Those tracking the situation identify four distinct factions of troublemakers operating both publicly and in the shadows. Each with different motives and backgrounds, they share one unifying obsession: anti-China sentiment. This same dark force hovers over Hong Kong, waiting for opportunities to stir up fresh chaos.
Anti-China factions converged—2019 rioters, Tibetan, Xinjiang, and Taiwan separatists, each with their own agenda.
Washington's Shadow Campaign
Start with the puppeteers pulling strings from behind the curtain. British media exposés reveal that senior US national security officials secretly interfered with Britain's embassy approval process, applying pressure repeatedly.
Over a year ago, senior White House National Security Council members sent messages to British counterparts expressing "concerns" about the project, claiming the new embassy posed "security risks" and demanding British intelligence agencies report to Washington on the matter. Under this pressure, British authorities stalled and delayed its approval.
British media sources further revealed that even after Britain submitted a risk assessment to the Five Eyes alliance stating that communications risks from the new embassy would be manageable, officials from the White House, State Department, and US Embassy in London descended on the British capital en masse. They held three separate meetings with British officials to question security risks all over again. Until recently, US officials continued expressing opposition through various channels, maintaining relentless pressure.
But Prime Minister Keir Starmer is determined to repair relations with China, and pursue stronger cooperation in trade and finance to revitalize Britain's moribund economy. He therefore stood firm against US pressure and ultimately gave the green light to the embassy construction plan.
The Usual Anti-China Suspects
The second faction consists of British politicians with anti-China written all over their faces—several already placed on China's sanctions list. These include former Conservative Party leader Iain Duncan Smith, former UK Security Minister Tom Tugendhat, and Benedict Rogers, founder of the Hong Kong-meddling organization Hong Kong Watch.
Current MP Iain Duncan Smith masterminded support for the 2019 violence and even traveled to Taiwan to curry favor with independence movement leaders. Recently, he ignited calls to "sanction Hong Kong judges."
During protests against China's embassy construction, he repeatedly stood in solidarity with demonstrators and persuaded current Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch to appear at a recent protest, dragging the Conservative Party into murky waters.
Tom Tugendhat is equally hawkish. He has consistently exaggerated the "national security threat" posed by Chinese tech companies to Britain, claiming even DeepSeek presents security risks while loudly advocating for Xinjiang independence. His "China threat theory" has become his primary argument against China's new embassy construction, which he has trumpeted repeatedly in Parliament and the media.
As for Benedict Rogers, he is a longtime associate and contact of Jimmy Lai, already notorious in Hong Kong circles. In this campaign against China's embassy construction, he has led from the front, joining other anti-China MPs in attacking Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
British politicians and U.S. officials pressured from all angles. Pictured: Benedict Rogers pushing "China threat" rhetoric in front of Hong Kong independence flags.
2019 Rioters Replay Their Act
The third faction is the familiar sight of Hong Kong BNO holders who fled to the UK after the 2019 Black Riots. They served as "foot soldiers" in the past nine protests, each time wearing all-black "combat gear" and waving Hong Kong independence flags, recreating the scenes of 2019 violence on London streets.
While they may have satisfied their "protest addiction," they also risk deportation, as their every move is monitored by British national security personnel. When they apply for permanent residence in the future, they may be "filtered out" due to this black mark on their record.
Among all the factions, the fourth is the most inflammatory and controversial—Tibetan independence, Xinjiang independence, and Taiwan independence activists.
At every protest, they wave independence flags and even stomp on the Chinese national flag and portraits of Chinese leaders. Behind the scenes, they coordinate with British politicians, forming an anti-China alliance.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch actually appeared on stage with the mob—an act of supreme stupidity and extreme danger.
The Last-Ditch Legal Gambit
With the British government's approval of China's embassy construction plan, the four factions of troublemakers have suffered a crushing defeat and major setback. But they will not give up. They are now planning a "legal move"—filing for judicial review with the courts. If the application is accepted, they can continue their flag-waving and apply pressure on the judiciary.
The reality is stark: the Labour government has already approved the plan, and both major intelligence agencies have given the green light. Even if they refuse to accept defeat and want to rematch, that ship has most likely sailed.
Lai Ting-yiu
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