By Giselle Alzate | 2024-12-25

BOGOTA -- Chinese private security companies have been expanding across Latin America, increasing risks for the countries in which they operate, observers warn.

These companies have significantly increased their footprint, offering a wide range of goods and services, from electronic surveillance systems to armed personnel for protection.

Among the 7,000 security companies registered in China, at least 40 operate internationally, including in Latin America, according to an article published in The Diplomat by R. Evan Ellis and Leland Lazarus in 2023.

"Although China-based private security companies have kept a low profile in Latin America and the Caribbean, a Chinese-language internet search on websites such as Baidu reveals multiple Chinese private security companies operating or seeking opportunities in the region," the article reads.

Nicaragua, Venezuela and Cuba, controlled by totalitarian regimes, are likeliest to host Chinese private security companies, the report noted.

Venezuela, rich in natural resources and led by a government keen to deepen ties with China, has become an attractive destination for these firms.

In Nicaragua, the presence of Chinese security companies has also grown in recent years, aligning with a close Sino-Nicaraguan relationship that includes significant investments and cooperation across various sectors.

Meanwhile, the presence of Chinese security companies in Cuba reflects a broader geopolitical strategy, as Havana, historically allied with Russia, has sought to diversify its international partnerships by strengthening ties with Beijing.

Expanding footprint

Beyond those countries, Chinese private security firms have made inroads in expanding their operations into Central America, Colombia, Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Ecuador and the Caribbean islands.

Much of the demand stems from a need to protect Chinese investments in sectors such as mining, energy and infrastructure, where protecting assets and personnel is critical.

Latin American countries often face considerable challenges that fuel demand for private security, including drug trafficking, organized crime and internal conflicts.

In Peru, China Security Technology Group has partnered with Grand Tai Peru through a memorandum of cooperation, focusing on providing security services to the mining sector, according to another article penned by Ellis published in The Diplomat in February.

Similarly, Beijing Dujie Security Technology Company has established a presence in Argentina, while China Overseas Security Group claims to have "conducted on-site investigations for opportunities" in the country.

In Central America, Zhong Bao Hua An Security Company reports "strategic cooperation businesses" in Panama, El Salvador and Costa Rica, while Tie Shen Bao Biao advertises personal protection services in Panama.

Opportunities for espionage

The growing presence of Chinese private security companies in the region could offer opportunities for Chinese intelligence operatives and People's Liberation Army (PLA) special forces to expand their activities, according to the 2023 article.

"Many employees of China-based security companies have backgrounds in the [PLA] or other security services," the report adds.

The authors warn that as Beijing increases its military and intelligence operations in the Western Hemisphere -- such as the deployment of spy balloons and the establishment of electronic intelligence facilities in Cuba -- Latin American countries must remain vigilant.

"An increasing presence by armed Chinese nationals in the region prioritizing the interests of their operations and compatriots, and inexperienced in the nuances of social protests and criminal activity in Latin America, could easily lead to the death or injury of locals," the authors said.

China's involvement in the security and defense sector in Latin America and the Caribbean, while relatively small, represents a strategically significant aspect of its regional engagement.