www.bloomberg.com
The article describes the 2018 ceremony where Ambassador Liu Xiaoming celebrated China’s £255 million acquisition of London’s Royal Mint Court. Promising to turn the site into a “bridge” between the two nations, Liu declared the building’s new name a “Right Monument of China.” Investors viewed it as a trophy asset and diplomatic foothold.
However, the narrative shifts from celebration to confrontation. The site, intended to host a massive embassy complex, became entangled in geopolitical tensions. Citing national security, the UK government, under then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, ultimately blocked the plan in 2024. This decision marked a significant cooling of relations, transforming a symbol of soft power into a focal point of suspicion and diplomatic stalemate.
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