Relationship dossier
People's Republic of China
Macau
Relationship assessment
China and Macau have a close, constitutionally structured relationship with extensive economic and regional cooperation.
People's Republic of China toward Macau
+75China governs its relationship with Macau through the “one country, two systems” framework, with the central government responsible for defense and foreign affairs. It has supported economic integration through the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement and regional development initiatives, including cooperation involving Hengqin.
Macau toward People's Republic of China
+75Macau’s government operates under China’s constitutional framework and cooperates with the central government on economic integration and national security. Macau has implemented local measures within that framework and participates in bilateral economic and regional cooperation, including the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement.
Overall relationship
+75The relationship is defined by Macau’s status as a Chinese special administrative region, with substantial local autonomy alongside central responsibility for defense and foreign affairs. Durable institutional links and economic arrangements, including the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement and regional development cooperation, underpin close government coordination.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Macau is a special administrative region of the People’s Republic of China under the “one country, two systems” framework. The central government retains responsibility for defense and foreign affairs while Macau exercises substantial local autonomy. China and Macau have sustained institutional and economic cooperation, including the 2003 Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement and coordination on regional development. Macau’s government operates within the constitutional framework and cooperates with the central government on integration and national security.
Key developments
China resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Macau, which became a special administrative region under the “one country, two systems” framework.
China and Macau signed the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement to deepen economic and trade cooperation.
Macau enacted its national security law under the framework of Article 23 of the Basic Law.
Major uncertainties
- The practical scope of Macau’s autonomy and central-government oversight continues to evolve.
- The implementation and effects of regional integration initiatives vary over time.