Congressman John Moolenaar Chairman of the Select Committee on the CCP | Official Website
Congressman John Moolenaar Chairman of the Select Committee on the CCP | Official Website
Chairman John Moolenaar and Representative Chris Smith have reached out to Lord Peter Mandelson, the United Kingdom's Ambassador to the United States, expressing their concerns over a proposed Chinese embassy in London. The planned embassy would be the largest of its kind in Europe and is set to be located at the Royal Mint Court site.
The letter from Moolenaar and Smith was sent prior to an upcoming meeting between UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and US President Donald Trump. It emphasizes apprehensions that granting such a significant diplomatic presence to China could be seen as rewarding the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) despite its record on human rights abuses.
Moolenaar remarked, "The U.K. must not reward the Chinese Communist Party with greater diplomatic influence while it continues to engage in repressive actions against its own people and against those who dare to speak out." He highlighted concerns about international security and democratic values, warning that increased CCP influence could pose risks globally.
Smith added his perspective: “The Chinese Communist government gets the largest embassy in Europe while a U.K. citizen is unjustly jailed in Hong Kong, U.K. residents are spied on and harassed by Chinese agents.” He underscored potential threats posed by increased espionage capabilities for China within the UK.
Their letter also called for prioritizing the release of Jimmy Lai, a UK citizen detained in Hong Kong, urging Prime Minister Starmer to work with President Trump towards securing Lai's freedom.
In addition to discussing human rights issues, Moolenaar and Smith pointed out China's alleged use of forced labor for goods exported internationally and transnational repression operations affecting dissidents across Europe. They expressed concerns about China's attempts to co-opt social and business elites through influence operations that undermine democratic values.
The correspondence concluded with an appeal for Lord Mandelson to communicate these concerns during Prime Minister Starmer's visit to the United States.
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