Macau

Macau, a part of Chinese territory for centuries, first developed as a major settlement in the 16th century, when the Portuguese established a trading post on the site. Portuguese colonialism in Macau had two main objectives: to develop economic and trade links with China and other Asian states, including Japan, and to spread Roman Catholicism, mainly through the efforts of Jesuit priests. However, because of the great size and power of the Asian states, the Portuguese had only limited success with both of these objectives. China permitted only limited economic access, and attempts to convert people to Catholicism were halted at times. Moreover, the Portuguese were competing with more aggressive European powers, such as Great Britain, and this limited Portugal's scope and success internationally. Colonial activity and control in Macau reached its height in the early 17th century, but stagnated thereafter. In dealing with China, Portugal resorted to negotiation rather than military confrontation, in contrast to Great Britain, which obtained trading privileges in China through force in the Opium Wars (1839-1843, 1856-1860). Great Britain also forced China to cede control of the territory of Hong Kong, which eventually eclipsed Macau as the region's most important port. In 1974 a military coup in Portugal brought to power a socialist government, which was sympathetic to independence movements in the country's overseas territories. Although there was no strong movement for independence in Macau, Portugal approached China about Macau's future. In 1987 Portugal and China reached an agreement by which Macau would be returned to China in 1999. In 1993 China passed a Basic Law for Macau that provides for the operation of Macau as a Special Administrative Region of China after the transfer to Chinese rule in 1999. The law, which was approved by Portgual, allows Macau to maintain a capitalist economy and a high degree of autonomy for a period of 50 years after 1999. The Basic Law also provides for a judicial system that maintains the rule of law as a principle for operating a civil society and market economy. The scheduled transfer and return of Macau to China will bring to an end nearly 500 years of European colonial and territorial involvement and control in Asia.