The Chinese government has been criticized for its refusal to participate in a judicial review concerning its proposed mega-embassy in London, which is set to be the largest diplomatic mission in Europe. The embassy, located on the historic Royal Mint site near Tower Bridge, was purchased for £225 million in 2018. Local residents and Tory MPs, including Iain Duncan Smith, have accused China of showing contempt for the UK's judicial process. The planned embassy has faced opposition, with the Tower Hamlets council rejecting planning permission twice. Amidst growing concerns over national security, including fears of espionage and the potential for the embassy to be used for detaining dissidents, the UK government has intervened. Despite these issues, the Labour government under Keir Starmer approved the project earlier this year, a decision that has drawn criticism from opposition MPs. The judicial review, initiated by the Royal Mint Court Residents' Association, will argue that the planning process was flawed due to prior government actions. The Chinese embassy's refusal to engage in the review has intensified scrutiny of its intentions and the implications for UK-China relations.