Volume XXII – Number 2
Armando M. da Silva
Abstract: On March 26, 1987, the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Portugal signed a joint declaration transferring control of Macau, a six-square mile territory in Southeastern China, back to China. This declaration marked the end of European colonial rule in East and Southeast Asia, as Macau was the last European colony to exist in that area of the world. The territory was first inhabited by the Portuguese in 1557 after years of commerce with China in the area. In 1862, Macau was formally ceded to Portugal through a treaty with China. Macau’s early years were marked by domestic political turmoil between the Senate and the various governors of Macau. In addition, political events outside of Macau, mainly the Chinese communist revolution in 1949 and the Portuguese coup d’état in 1974, also marked new changes in the governance of Macau. The former only led to a minor change in government structure, but the latter led to the first free election in Portugal, an event that would mark the beginning of the end of Portuguese colonialism. After granting independence to its colonies in Angola and Guinea-Bissau, Portugal finally ceded Macau back to the People’s Republic of China in 1987, marking the final chapter of Portuguese colonialism.
Keywords: Macau, Portugal, China, colonialism, coup d’état, domestic, governance
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