Statement from the Uyghur Freedom Institute
Date: June 16, 2025
On behalf of the Uyghur Freedom Institute and the Uyghur community around the world, we urgently call on the United Kingdom government to reject the Chinese government’s plan to establish a so-called ‘super embassy’ in London.
This proposed expansion is not merely an administrative or diplomatic development—it represents a growing threat to civil liberties, human rights, and national security within the UK. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has a well-documented history of harassment, intimidation, and surveillance of diaspora communities, including Uyghurs, Tibetans, Hongkongers, and Chinese dissidents. Allowing China to vastly expand its diplomatic footprint in the heart of London would only enable more aggressive operations on British soil.
Numerous reports and testimonies from across Europe have shown that Chinese embassies and consulates have been misused for transnational repression, including coercing individuals to remain silent, spying on exiled activists, and interfering in domestic affairs of democratic nations.
The UK must stand firm in defense of human rights, democratic values, and the safety of those who have sought refuge within its borders. This includes Uyghur refugees and activists who have already suffered deeply at the hands of the Chinese regime and now live in fear of being monitored or harassed abroad.
We urge Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the Foreign Secretary, and all Members of Parliament to:
- Reject the proposal for China’s super embassy in London;
- Investigate and address existing concerns of Chinese state-linked intimidation within the UK;
- Protect vulnerable communities from transnational repression, and
- Demonstrate global leadership by refusing to accommodate the expansion of authoritarian influence under the guise of diplomacy.
Now is the time for moral clarity and resolute action. The UK must not allow its capital to become a hub for authoritarian power projection.
Uyghur Freedom Institute
Contact: uyghurfreedominstitute@gmail.com
https://uyghurinstitute.org/
