The UK government has delayed its decision on whether to approve China's largest embassy in London until January. The decision will come around the time when Labour leader Keir Starmer is expected to visit Beijing for talks. Ministers are likely to approve the plan since the Home Office and Foreign Office raised no security concerns. The Guardian reported that security agencies said they can manage the risks. A government spokesperson said combining China's seven diplomatic buildings into one site “clearly brings security advantages.” China wants to merge all its diplomatic offices into the Royal Mint Court site near Tower Bridge, covering 20,000 sq metres. However, this is the third time the government has delayed the planning decision, now set for 20 January. Starmer, who would be the first UK prime minister to visit Beijing since Theresa May in 2018, said on Monday: “We reject that binary choice” between a golden age and an ice age with China. He called China a “nation of immense scale, ambition and ingenuity” and said, “Our response will not be driven by fear, nor softened by illusion.” Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper wrote in a letter that their departments have carefully considered the security and diplomatic implications. They worked with police to ensure national security is maintained while supporting diplomatic relations. The embassy plan has sparked protests from local residents and activists concerned about China's human rights issues in Hong Kong and Xinjiang. Several protests have taken place near the site recently. The UK government confirmed the final decision will be made by the housing secretary. They stressed that all security concerns have been addressed and that the new embassy would replace seven existing buildings, improving security. China bought Royal Mint Court in 2018 for £255 million. The plan stalled after local council Tower Hamlets refused permission in 2022. The Labour government later took the matter from the council to decide centrally after coming to power last year.