Chen said that demand for female bodyguards in mainland China had grown in the past decade as wealthy businessmen preferred hiring women to protect their families. One source told the South China Morning Post that Xiao left Hong Kong “willingly” to assist with investigations on the mainland. Chen from Zhongzhou Tewei declined to confirm or deny whether the two female bodyguards were provided by his firm, but said the company employed about 30 female bodyguards. Only about 10 per cent of female bodyguards are former soldiers, with most of them being graduates of sports schools or martial arts athletes, Chen said. “To qualify as a bodyguard, these women have to pass training and tests of their reflexes and their decision-making skills under pressure and in emergencies.”A documentary about Chinese female bodyguards that aired in 2013 said demand for female bodyguards had been growing rapidly in China.

Source: The Star February 03, 2017 00:00 UTC