Beijing, Dec. 17, 2024 (Lusa) - On the 25th anniversary of the transfer of administration from Portugal to China, Beijing is taking advantage of Macau's success to restore legitimacy to the "one country, two systems" formula, which has been weakened by tensions in Taiwan and Hong Kong.
"I would say that, for the central government and for the 1.4 billion people on the Chinese mainland, Macau has been a very successful example of the "one country, two systems" formula," Gao Zhikai, who served as an interpreter for former Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping and is currently one of the best-known commentators on Chinese television, told Lusa.
The formula, which allowed Macau and Hong Kong to enjoy a high degree of autonomy at executive, legislative and judicial level, was originally proposed by Mr Deng in the late 1970s as a solution to reunify Taiwan.
But the island where the former Chinese government took refuge after losing the civil war against the communists in 1949, continues to function as a sovereign political entity. In recent years, the relationship between Beijing and Taipei has deteriorated, as the current Taiwanese leadership reiterates the territory's sovereignty.
Hong Kong, on the other hand, was shaken in 2019 by anti-government protests, marked by violent clashes between demonstrators and the police, plunging the semi-autonomous region into a political and economic crisis.
In Macau, the "improvement in indices" since the transfer of administration from Portugal to China "speaks for itself", emphasised Gao.
"Macau has achieved stability, growth, peace and rapid economic development," he said.
The Chinese state press has also emphasised the region's development over the last 25 years.
In an article entitled "Macau's prosperity dispels doubts about [the] 'one country, two systems' model", the official Xinhua news agency wrote that "once known as the 'city of casinos' and a frequent setting for 'gangster' films, [Macau] has transformed into a dynamic city, celebrated for its economic vitality, low crime rates and exceptional public welfare".
In just one generation, the territory has become the largest gambling centre in the world. The economy grew by 15.7% year-on-year in the first half of 2024. According to Forbes magazine, Macau now has the second highest GDP per capita in the world, totalling US$134,141 ( €127,000), a figure surpassed only by Luxembourg.
The passing of the Portuguese administration left behind, among other things, the colonial buildings, the Portuguese pavement, the tiles, but also intangible heritage such as the Portuguese language, which is still official in public services, and the law, which is of Portuguese origin.
Gao Zhikai said that China sees the maintenance of this heritage as ‘positive’, and draws a contrast with India's policy for the region of Goa, "where Portuguese influence was eliminated after integration".
"China and its people have no problem maintaining the Portuguese heritage in Macau," he emphasised.
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Lusa
