Labour ministers have pushed back a decision on letting China build a highly controversial ‘super embassy’ in London.

Critics of the plan for the Royal Mint site fear the building close to the City of London and crucial data cables, will be used as a base for espionage.

A decision had been due on December 10, but has been delayed to give Housing Secretary Steve Reed, who has the final say on major planning cases, to examine the proposal further.

It comes amid reports that Sir Keir Starmer, who has faced criticism over Labour’s attitude to China, is to visit Beijing in the new year.

Approval of the embassy would remove one of the diplomatic barriers ahead of the long-expected visit as he seeks to build business ties with the world’s second-largest economy.

In a speech last night the Prime Minister said China posed ‘national security threats to the UK’.

But he went on to call it ‘a defining force in technology, trade and global governance’ and said Britain needed a China policy ‘that recognises this reality’.

Downing Street suggested that the consideration of ‘particular security implications’ meant that more time was needed to consider the planning application for a Chinese embassy in central London.

Critics of the plan for the Royal Mint site fear the building close to the City of London and crucial data cables, will be used as a base for espionage.

It comes amid reports that Sir Keir Starmer, who has faced criticism over Labour’s attitude to China, is to visit Beijing in the new year.