Securitisation of Economic Projects: A Case of Chinese Private Security Companies (PSCs) in Pakistan

The article evaluates the presence of Chinese private security companies (PSCs) in Pakistan and its implications for China’s engagement in South Asia. It looks at Chinese debates on the role of PSCs, their legal status and relationship with the Chinese government, and past experiences of deployment of PSCs overseas in other parts of the world to contextualise the presence of Chinese PSCs in Pakistan. The security of economic projects and Chinese nationals in Pakistan has become a critical issue for China in recent years. Based on an analysis of Chinese PSCs’ activities, the article argues that the PSCs are becoming a crucial mechanism for Chinese presence, which will change the nature and extent of China’s involvement in Pakistan. In addition, the presence of Chinese PSCs in Pakistan holds lessons for understanding the nature and extent of Chinese engagement in countries that are part of the Belt and Road Initiative.