Embassy of China, London

The Embassy of China in London is the diplomatic mission of China in the United Kingdom.[1] Established in 1877 as the Chinese Legation, the London mission was China's first permanent overseas diplomatic mission. It has served as the diplomatic mission of the Manchu Qing Empire, Republic of China and (since 1950) the People's Republic of China. It was the location of the Qing Empire's detention of Sun Yat-sen, an important episode in the Chinese revolution of 1911. It remains today the focal point for events relating to China held in the United Kingdom, including celebrations in 2012 to commemorate 40 years of diplomatic relations between the UK and the People's Republic of China.[2]

Embassy of China in London
LocationMarylebone, London
Address49–51 Portland Place, London W1B 1JL
Coordinates51.52102°N 0.14548°W / 51.52102; -0.14548
AmbassadorLiu Xiaoming

Most applications by UK citizens for visas to China are not handled by the embassy, however, but are instead processed by the China Visa Applications Centre, also located in London.[3] There is a constant police presence outside the embassy.

China also maintains several other buildings in London: an Education Section at 50 Portland Place, a Defence Section at 25 Lyndhurst Road, Hampstead, a Commercial Section at 16 Lancaster Gate, Paddington, a Cultural Section at 11 West Heath Road, Hampstead and a Science & Technology Section at 10 Greville Place, Maida Vale.[4] In addition, there are Chinese consulates-general in Manchester, Edinburgh and Belfast.[5]

The embassy has in recent years been the site of protests against actions of the Chinese government, including protests against the imprisonment of artist Ai Weiwei,[6] and in favour of Tibetan independence.[7] There has been a Falun Gong protester sitting opposite the embassy for many years; this is referenced in the novel Saturday by Ian McEwan.

Despite 2013 rumours that the embassy was to move from Portland Place to a new development in Nine Elms[8], in 2018 the Chinese government purchased Royal Mint Court with plans to develop the site for a new embassy building.[9]

History

The Chinese Legation in London was established at 49 Portland Place in 1877 by the Qing Empire, becoming China's first permanent overseas diplomatic mission. As part of the settlement of the Margary Affair, the Qing Empire was required to send an Imperial commissioner to London to apologise in person to Queen Victoria. Guo Songtao, Deputy Minister of Arms, was appointed Minister to Britain and Minister to France in 1876 and sent to London. Guo arrived at Southampton on 12 January 1877. In preparation for his arrival, James Duncan Campbell, non-resident secretary of the Chinese Imperial Customs Service and head of its London office, leased 49 Portland Place, and the Chinese Legation was officially established on Guo's arrival in London on 7 February 1877.

Kidnapped in London: Sun Yat-sen publicised his imprisonment in the Chinese Legation for political effect in this widely read pamphlet.

The legation was the location of the detention of Sun Yat-sen, an important episode in the lead-up to the Chinese revolution of 1911. Sun's detention sparked a major diplomatic incident, but he was eventually released with the help of his friend James Cantlie.

After the 1911 revolution, the Republic of China was established on 1 January 1912 and was recognised by the British government as the legitimate government of China on 6 October 1913. The Republic of China government took over the building from the Qing government, and extended the lease on No. 49 in 1924. In 1926, the Chinese government leased the adjoining 51 Portland Place as well, and obtained a 999-year lease on both No. 49 and No. 51. In 1935, the level of Chinese diplomatic representation in Britain was upgraded, and the Chinese Legation became the Chinese Embassy.

After the revolution of 1949, the UK government for a short time continued to recognise the Republic of China as the legitimate government of China, but in 1950 switched recognition to the People's Republic of China, which inherited the buildings. British authorities agreed to a Chinese request to demolish the buildings and rebuild them as a single building with a sympathetic façade in 1973. The buildings were demolished in 1980, rebuilding took place between 1983 and 1985. The new building, while sympathetic to the original, retains only one doorway in place of the two doorways of the two houses it replaced.[10]

Controversy

On 3 June 2014, members of staff at the Chinese embassy in London reacted angrily when people arrived to lay flowers to mark the 25th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre.

Wang Ti-Anna, the daughter of an imprisoned democracy activist and another women were shoved, their flowers thrown away, and they were shouted at by a member of staff, before calm returned to the scene.[11]

  • The embassy building today. While the façades of the two houses that stood on this site, with slightly different designs, can still be distinguished, the two doorways were replaced with one during the 1970s rebuilding.
  • A policeman outside the embassy; the National Emblem of the People's Republic of China can be seen above the door
  • A Falun Gong protester in 2013
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See also

References
  1. "The London Diplomatic List" (PDF). 13 December 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 December 2013.
  2. Remarks by H.E. Ambassador Liu Xiaoming, Liu Xiaoming, chinese-embassy.org.uk, Accessed on 5 August 2012.
  3. Chinese Embassy London, Dai Davies, chineseembassylondon.co.uk, Accessed on 5 August 2012.
  4. "The London Diplomatic List" (PDF). 13 December 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 December 2013.
  5. "Consulate-General in the UK". Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  6. The Guardian, Abby d'Arcy Hughes, guardian.co.uk, Accessed on 12 August 2012.
  7. Tibet Custom Editors, tibetcustom.com, Accessed on 12 August 2012.
  8. Prynn, Jonathan (21 August 2013). "Revealed: London's £3 BILLION embassy sell-off bonanza". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  9. "China acquires London Royal Mint Court site for new embassy". europe-re.com. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  10. Chinese Embassy in London – About the Embassy Building
  11. "Angry scene at China UK embassy on Tiananmen anniversary". www.bbc.co.uk. BBC. 4 June 2014. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
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