@kwendy Heist is happening in Hong Kong where chinese government doesnt have full iron grip. Judging by the banks foreign security detail it's not state owned, so they can't access vault directly.
Using some chinese black-ops team to break into such a place would probably cause international suspicions and uproar. But by using westerner mercenaries they fully take away any association of involvement.
@Nitouryu I still think survelience route would be twice as beneficial and getting bank owner or even manager by the balls or license is easier then hiring dubious crowd.