Unredacted plans for China’s new ‘super embassy’ in London have been eyed by The Daily Telegraph, which highlights some concerning security implications. Its research has found that the construction plans include a “hidden chamber” that runs in parallel to “Britain’s most sensitive communication cables.” It raises the specter of Chinese espionage agents casually tapping into UK internet streams from their "spy basement." While citing serious security conerns about the potential location of such an installation, the report admits that the 'secret room' could actually end up being a café or gym.
🚨 The Telegraph obtains unredacted plans showing how close the underground complex will come to cables carrying sensitive British financial dataLook at the uncovered plans below ⬇️https://t.co/DO35bujFP2 pic.twitter.com/CPxYvnPuWUJanuary 12, 2026
The plans show fiber optic cables pulsing with data from the City of London financial hub, and other users, running through the artery of Mansell Street. Telecoms companies such as BT Openreach, Colt Technologies, and Verizon Business channel their fiber down this street.
In the source report, we then witness a leap of reasoning. The hidden room is fitted with hot air extraction systems, “possibly suggesting the installation of heat-generating equipment such as advanced computers used for espionage,” it says. Moreover, the embassy builders plan to demolish and rebuild a basement wall “directly beside the fiber-optic cables,” reports The Telegraph.
The newspaper quotes the shadow national security minister to add weight to its concerns. This politician from the opposition benches says that approval of the embassy plans would provide China with “a launchpad for economic warfare at the heart of the central nervous system of our critical national infrastructure.”
Other embassy areas revealed in The Telegraph’s unredacted plans include back-up generators, a sprinkler plant, new lift shafts, communications cabling, bathrooms, and showers.
Telegraph ponders China spying possibilities
The Telegraph cites a number of telecoms experts in stating how China could tap into the cables that would be in proximity to its new embassy. It says the hidden room would be just a meter from the Mansell Street cables. By diverting them, inserting a wire tap, or even bending cables to read light leaks – without detection – espionage could occur.
But the hidden chamber could equally be a café or gym
Before signing off, the newspaper admits China’s plans for cooling systems in the basement rooms could be for a non-spy-oriented data center, or even a café, or gym. In other words, all the spy stuff ruminated over by the newspaper is largely guesswork.
Those scrutinizing the plans, and the subsequent construction activity, would surely be wary of optical cable tapping, sniffing, or similar spying jiggery-pokery. They will also be getting advice from the UK's security agencies.
Underlining that concerns about the threat of spying are not being swept under the carpet, a spokesperson for the current government told The Telegraph that “National security is our first duty and government security experts have been involved throughout the process so far.” They went on to say that security implications have been identified and addressed. Moreover, BT Openreach said it has robust security measures in place and has worked with the government on digital asset protection.
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