Relationship dossier
Macau
São Tomé and Príncipe
Relationship assessment
Forum participation provides a modest channel for Macau–São Tomé and Príncipe cooperation
Macau toward São Tomé and Príncipe
+15Macau’s government participates in the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries, which provides a channel for engagement with São Tomé and Príncipe. Macau does not conduct an independent foreign policy; foreign affairs are handled by China’s central government.
São Tomé and Príncipe toward Macau
+15São Tomé and Príncipe joined the China–Portuguese-speaking Countries cooperation forum after restoring diplomatic relations with China in 2016, creating a channel for engagement with Macau. The scope of direct bilateral government cooperation with Macau is unclear.
Overall relationship
+15The relationship has a practical cooperation channel through the Macau-based forum for China and Portuguese-speaking countries. Macau’s foreign affairs are handled by China’s central government, while São Tomé and Príncipe’s participation in the forum followed its restoration of diplomatic relations with China. The scale of direct Macau–São Tomé and Príncipe cooperation is uncertain.
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 China, and foreign affairs are handled by China’s central government. Macau’s role in the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries provides a concrete channel for engagement with São Tomé and Príncipe, which joined the forum after restoring diplomatic relations with China in 2016. This supports a modest assessment of practical cooperation, although the scope of direct Macau–São Tomé and Príncipe government ties is unclear.
Key developments
São Tomé and Príncipe restored diplomatic relations with China and subsequently joined the Macau-based Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and implementation of direct Macau–São Tomé and Príncipe cooperation outside the forum are unclear.
- The extent of São Tomé and Príncipe’s participation in Macau-based forum activities is uncertain.