The CIA World Factbook Every edition, 2000 to 2025 Southeast Asia

Background Macau, in 26 editions.

The entry for Macau published Background in 26 editions of 36, from 2000 to 2025. The text changed in 9 editions. Each is shown as published. Background in every entry.

editions changed the text
9
the first edition with it
2000
the latest edition with it
2025

Published as “Background” (2000 to 2025).

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2025 edition

Same as 2024

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The same text in 2024 and 2025.

Portuguese ships began arriving in 1513. In the 1550s, Portuguese paying tribute to China settled in Macau, which became the official entrepôt for all international trade with China and Japan and the first European settlement in the Far East. The first governor was appointed in the 17th century, but the Portuguese remained largely under the control of the Chinese. In the 1930s and ’40s Macau was declared a neutral territory during the Sino-Japanese War and World War II and became a refuge for both Chinese and Europeans. Portugal officially made Macau an overseas province in 1951.

In April 1987, Portugal and China reached an agreement to return Macau to Chinese rule in 1999, using the Hong Kong Joint Declaration between China and the UK as a model. In this agreement, China promised that, under its "one country, two systems" formula, China's political and economic system would not be imposed on Macau, and that Macau would enjoy a "high degree of autonomy" in all matters except foreign affairs and defense for the next 50 years.

However, after China's multi-year crackdown against the pro-democracy movement in nearby Hong Kong, the governments of China and the Macau Special Administrative Region worked to limit Macau's political autonomy by suppressing opposition activity in the 2021 legislative elections.

Colonized by Portuguese ships began arriving in 1513. In the 1550s, Portuguese paying tribute to China settled in Macau, which became the 16th century, Macau was official entrepôt for all international trade with China and Japan and the first European settlement in the Far East. Pursuant to an agreement signed by China The first governor was appointed in the 17th century, but the Portuguese remained largely under the control of the Chinese. In the 1930s and ’40s Macau was declared a neutral territory during the Sino-Japanese War and World War II and became a refuge for both Chinese and Europeans. Portugal on 13 officially made Macau an overseas province in 1951.
In
April 1987, Macau became the Portugal and China reached an agreement to return Macau Special Administrative Region of to Chinese rule in 1999, using the People's Republic of Hong Kong Joint Declaration between China on 20 December 1999. and the UK as a model. In this agreement, China promised that, under its "one country, two systems" formula, China's political and economic system would not be imposed on Macau, and that Macau would enjoy a "high degree of autonomy" in all matters except foreign affairs and defense for the subsequent next 50 years. However, following a after China's multi-year crackdown by China against a the pro-democracy movement in nearby Hong Kong, the governments of China and the Macao Macau Special Administrative Region similarly worked to limit Macao's Macau's political autonomy by suppressing opposition activity in the 2021 legislative elections.

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Central Intelligence Agency. “Macau: Background.” The World Factbook, 2000–2025 editions. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/macau/background.

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