Since launching the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2013, China has increasingly relied on private security companies (PSCs) to safeguard its investments and personnel abroad, compensating for its limited global military presence. Unlike Russia’s quasi-private military and security companies (PMCs), which often engage in covert military operations, Chinese PSCs serve a more controlled purpose—protecting BRI projects without deploying the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). Rising anti-Chinese violence from Pakistan to sub-Saharan Africa and the ongoing civil war in Myanmar have amplified the role of PSCs, forcing Beijing to prioritise professionalism and tighter oversight. Unlike Moscow’s ‘Kalashnikov Diplomacy,’ China’s PSC strategy remains highly regulated and designated as a passive security tool. This calculated approach aligns with its broader geopolitical ambitions under the BRI and the Global Security Initiative (GSI), reinforcing Beijing’s emphasis on influence through controlled stability rather than confrontation.
Myanmar: A litmus test for China’s private security expansion
