Karl Schembri
The Chinese government is still pressing the government for a vast plot of public land to be able to fit a new super embassy the size of six football pitches, more than a year since it made its official request to Malta.
The original request made in the summer of 2007 was for a plot of land of up to 10,000 square metres in Pembroke at favoured rates, specifically “away from Ta’ Qali” – where the new US embassy will be opened.
A spokesman for the Lands Department confirmed that, far from sending them packing, government was searching for a site to accommodate China.
“Discussions are underway in connection with the identification of a site for the purpose of a Chinese Embassy,” said Edward Bonello, communications coordinator for Parliamentary Secretary Jason Azzopardi, who is in charge of the Lands Department.
A spokesman for Foreign Minister Tonio Borg, Melvyn Mangion, however said that “no developments have been registered so far”.
The plans have been kept largely under wraps by China. Although the government wants to avoid a repeat of the American embassy controversy at all costs, it also believes that it would make sense to have a large Chinese embassy given the investment potential of this up and coming superpower.
In 2006, China donated around €232,900 in furniture for Malta’s own super embassy and permanent representation in Brussels. Yet Malta’s Permanent Representative to the EU and the only unelected Cabinet member was furious upon opening the boxes with furniture on the grand opening day of Dar Malta, only to find most of it chipped, broken by handlers, damaged or missing.

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