Taiwan - China Expanding Security Services
CCP-Run Frontier Services Hiring; Former Blackwater Group
If anyone knows the address or the local sales representative in Taiwan of Frontier, e-mail me: chinainarms@substack.com; you will be given a life time membership!
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12 November 2023 (updated 21 April 2024)
Taiwan - China Expanding Security Force Protection
CCP-Controlled Frontier Services Hiring
By Wendell Minnick (Whiskey Mike) 顏文德
TAIPEI - Why is there a Chinese state-owned company operating VIP executive protection services in Taiwan?
Taiwan is basically inviting a Chinese state-run company with the capabilities of a military special operations strike force to open an office in Taipei.
The Beijing-based, state-owned, Frontier Services Group is now advertising on LinkedIn for an “Executive Protection Agent” for Taipei.
With my unique LinkedIn profile I received an invite to apply. So I applied for the job just to shake the tree and see what fell…and on 9 November there was a thanks, but no thanks:
Wendell,
Thanks for your interest in the Executive Protection Agent position at Frontier Services Group in Taipei City, Taiwan. Unfortunately, we will not be moving forward with your application but we appreciate your time and interest in Frontier Services Group .
Regards,
Frontier Services Group
Frontier is a Chinese state-owned security, aviation, and logistics company founded and led until April 2021 by Erik Prince, the former head of Blackwater Worldwide.
The below will give Taiwan intelligence/military officials an idea of Frontier’s capabilities:
Advance Site Surveys
Armored Vehicle Convoy
Develop Integrated Security Plans
Information Analysis
Operational Suppor
Operations and Communications Centers
Personal Security Awareness Training
Quick Reaction Forces
Risk Mitigation
Vulnerability and Threat Assessments
Perhaps Taiwan’s National Security Bureau (NSB) should be concerned, because Frontier has been sanctioned by the U.S. Government for activities in Kenya, Laos and the United Arab Emirates. Not to mention training the People Liberation Army (PLA).
In June 2023, the U.S. Commerce Department sanctioned Frontier to the Bureau of Industry and Security’s (BIS) Entity List.
Download BIS PDF:
Though I could not find the office or identify anyone from Frontier in Taiwan, I did locate one former employee of Frontier:
Mike Denison, researcher and analyst based in Taipei as an Independent Consultant: March 2020 - Present (3 years 9 months). Worked for Frontier as an analyst from July 2014 - October 2017 (3 years 4 months), Nairobi. Conducted research on politics, markets, and risk in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Impressive education: London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London, MSc, International Affairs (2010 - 2011); Peking University, MSc, International Affairs (2009 - 2010); University of Oxford, BA, Philosophy, Politics and Economics (2005 - 2008).
Screenshot:
Ironically, via Frontier’s roots, Blackwater was a friend of Taiwan with a contract to train Taiwan’s presidential security teams under the NSB after the assassination attempt on then President Chen Shui-bian (19 March 2004).
Taiwan’s NSB was so proud of their Blackwater training they wore the ball cap while protecting the President:
Frontier Services Group (FSG) is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (0500HK).
FSG is a leading provider of integrated security, logistics, insurance and infrastructure services for clients operating in frontier markets. Our teams are multinational, multilingual and highly experienced, which allows us to provide world-class service no matter the environment.
FSG focuses on four regions – Southern Africa Region, Middle East & North Africa Region, Northwest Region, Southwest Region. Client Industries include Oil & Gas, Mining, Finance, International Organizations, Energy and Infrastructure.
Though originally based in Hong Kong under Prince, it is now headquartered in Beijing but retains a Hong Kong office. Since Prince left the company in 2021, the Chinese state-run CITIC Group gained control of it.
By virtue of being owned by members of the Chinese Communist Party (CPC), it can be assumed to have NO real interest in the executive protection VIP market in Taiwan, but most likely is working to expand Chinese influence and intelligence collection operations on the island, and perhaps even covert special operations.
There is significant date below on three individuals of interest.
One is Michael Banish who comes up repeatedly in documents as the primary trainer/instructor for Frontier. There is no indication that Banish ever worked for Blackwater, though there is a possibility of a mysteries contract in the documents below. Banish is a U.S. citizen and former Green Beret, now working for a company that is now sanctioned by the U.S. government.
The other U.S. citizen of interest is Dorian Barak with powerful Israeli and UAE business connections.
The third is a Chinese citizen and the one that most likely replaced Prince in 2021, Li Xiaopeng with a background in internal security operations.