Since the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China has increasingly relied on private security firms to safeguard its investments and personnel abroad, addressing gaps in its limited power projection capabilities. Unlike Russia’s quasi-PMCs, which engage in militarized covert operations, Chinese private security companies (PSCs) operate with a narrower focus, protecting BRI-related projects without directly deploying the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). Rising anti-Chinese violence in Pakistan and instability in Myanmar have intensified Beijing’s reliance on PSCs, pushing for enhanced professionalism. However, the Wagner Group’s failed mutiny in Russia serves as a cautionary tale for Beijing about the potential dangers of empowering private security entities. Balancing security needs with controlled oversight, China’s PSCs remain a critical component of its global strategy, reflecting a measured and cautious approach distinct from Moscow’s aggressive “Kalashnikov Diplomacy.”
Alessandro Arduino PhD is an affiliate lecturer at Lau China Institute, King’s College London, a visiting professor at Geneva Graduate Institute and a member of the Advisory Group of the International Code of Conduct Associations for private security companies. Previously he served as a China expert for the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the Italian Consulate General in Shanghai, co-director of the Security and Crisis Management International Center at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences (SASS), and a principal research fellow at the Middle East Institute – National University of Singapore (NUS).
His latest book Money for Mayhem: Mercenaries, Private Military Companies, Drones, and the Future of War (Rowman & Littlefield, 2023), forecasts what the future of war looks like in a world dominated by private armies. His reputation as a Belt and Road Initiative security expert has led him to work with international organisations including NATO, OSCE, EBRD, UNDP and the Italian Army. Dr Arduino has been appointed a Knight of the Order of the Italian Star by the President of the Italian Republic.
