Macau’s Lusophone Connection: Unveiling a forgotten state’s geopolitical Connection

Sara Kapoor is a third year BA Economics, Politics and History student in the School of Slavonic and Eastern European studies. She is passionate about employing an interdisciplinary outlook to area  studies to understand the global differences in how politics and economies operate. She believes building this understanding can lead to greater international cooperation.

Introduction

What does one think of when we hear the name 'Macau'? To most people, it is an exotic holiday destination. It was not uncommon when I was growing up to peek into my Mum's laptop as she scrolled through Facebook and see her liking posts of her friend's and family's vacation pictures to Hong Kong/Macau'. The oversimplification of China's newest territorial gain and second Special Administrative Region as a giant casino with Euro-inspired colonial architecture is one of the many ways to remember Macau's unique and under-appreciated position in the region. As a former Portuguese colony and the last European territory in Asia until its handover to China in 1999, Macau has cultivated a rich Lusophone connection far beyond charming colonial architecture or fusion food. If understood and appropriately leveraged, Macau's links to the Lusophone could initiate unique diplomatic, economic and cultural opportunities that could link two different regions.

Moreover, Macau's quiet role in regional geopolitics and its subservience to the mainland government under the 'One Country, Two Systems' framework, a unique political arrangement that allows Macau to maintain a high degree of autonomy, is exceptional given that Hong Kong, despite being an older addition to China, often questions the mainland government. The article has thus been written to serve two primary purposes. Firstly, challenge the oversimplified narrative of Macau and uncover its strategic geopolitical role, mainly through its Lusophone connection. Lastly, the article aims to discern why regions such as Macau are often 'forgotten' in global discourse and how that liquifies debates on politics and diplomacy. 

The Lusophone Legacy: Macau's Unique Cultural and Diplomatic Bridge

Macau is home to Fortaleza do Monte - an impressive seventeenth-century fort where displays of old cannons and architecture evoke the memories of the first Iberian intrusions into Asia as southern European sailors first stepped foot into the country. Macau acted as a staging port for the Portuguese as early as 1516 and was the oldest European settlement in the Far East. While tensions between the indigenous Chinese population and their 'perpetual occupiers' (Bureau of Public Affairs U.S. Department of State, 2001) were almost constant, the Portuguese presence left an indelible mark on the city. Whether it be Macau's position as the only neutral port in the Canton region during the Second World War or the development of the Macanese community and their distinct language, it is evident that Macau was once a melting pot of Portuguese and East Asian cultures. However, it is crucial to consider that the rise of pro-communist groups in Macau in the late twentieth century and resistance to the 'foreign' people by the locals has meant that post-independence, Macau has lost many of the linguistic ties with the Lusophone world as now almost 80.1% of people either prefer communicating in Cantonese or Mandarin given that their work centres around mainland China or Hong-Kong. Despite Portuguese still being one of the two official state languages, a key reason behind this erasure of language is that Macau lacks bilingual training, given that almost 70% of its GDP comes from casinos with exclusive mainland control. 

Nonetheless, around seven per cent of Macau's population still have some command of Portuguese, and it seems that numbers will remain stable as these are usually members of mixed families. The 3 Portuguese newspapers and the fact that TDM (Macau's national TV channel) broadcasts in Portuguese and Cantonese only strengthen this tie. Thus, Macau's historical ties to Portuguese-speaking nations (PSCs) provide a unique geopolitical advantage. Unlike Hong Kong, which dominated headlines due to political and financial struggles with Beijing, Macau remains subservient. It quietly continues fostering a robust connection to PSCs that could be a potential goldmine for Beijing. This connection has been slowly nurtured under Forum Macau, a platform created to bridge connections between China and PSCs, encompassing nations in Africa, Asia and South America. With the potential to act as a diplomatic tie with almost 300 million people from these PSCs, Macay acts as a conduit of trade, cultural exchange and multilateral partnerships central to China's Bel and Road Initiative (BRI). 

The city's bilingual capabilities and cultural legacy make it an essential player in strengthening Sino-Lusophone ties. For instance, Macau serves as a training hub for bilingual talent, promoting Portuguese as a critical language for diplomacy and commerce. Its role extends to hosting forums on economic cooperation, managing bilateral trade initiatives, and facilitating infrastructure projects in PSCs. This "one country, two systems" framework uniquely enables Macau to maintain friendly ties with culturally diverse nations, avoiding the ideological clashes common in other international partnerships​. Moreover, Macau's alignment with the Greater Bay Area development strategy and integration into China's BRI further amplify its geopolitical significance. Initiatives like establishing a China-PSC science and technology cooperation platform highlight how Macau is evolving beyond its traditional image as a gaming hub. These efforts emphasise innovation and sustainability, addressing global challenges such as food security and healthcare in PSCs. 

I want to point out how states often work better together if they have cultural, political or historical common ground. In the past, we have seen unlikely countries like Yugoslavia, India, and Egypt forming an unlikely alliance of the 'Non-aligned nations' during the Cold War, wherein diplomats often leveraged their shared past of colonial and forced control, banding them together. Thus, common ground like Mozambique and Mecanese delegates binding over Café de Manhá could potentially lead to a new avenue of trade in coffee beans, leading to a revolutionary East Asia-Africa economic trade route. Combining its cultural heritage with modern economic strategies, Macau's Lusophone connection becomes a unique diplomatic asset, presenting opportunities that both China and the PSCs can leverage. Highlighting Macau's potential in these areas underscores why this "forgotten state" deserves more attention in global geopolitics.

Why is Macau 'Forgotten' in Geopolitics?

While we later explore why it may be time for Macau to come out of the cold geopolitically, first, we need to explain why this unique place at such a crossroads has long been lost from the lens of global media scrutiny and political discussion. While Hong Kong's tumultuous relationship with Beijing has attracted more media coverage, Macau's quiet acquiescence under the 'One Country, Two System' principle, a unique political arrangement that allows Macau to maintain a high degree of autonomy while being part of China, provides a striking contrast and underscores its geopolitical importance.

By nature, Hong Kong is an international financial centre fundamentally part of global capitalism. As such, it has long been integral to China’s economic strategy, enabling high levels of internationalisation in world trade and investment. However, Beijing's hardline policies erode its institutional framework, such as judicial independence and capital mobility. In other ways, the city's international reputation has been rocked by protests and crackdowns​, with some parts of its financial system remaining firm​.

However, Macau needs more institutional independence and monetary clout than Hong Kong. Although there has been talking about a yuan-denominated stock exchange in Macau, the territory's small economic base, reliance on casino-linked revenue, and reputation as a money laundering centre cripple its profile as an additional global financial hub. Further, the local courts' partial reliance on Beijing makes them less credible​.

However, Macau's silence on mainland policies and willingness to comply with them have produced the stability that Beijing might welcome. Macau is not Hong Kong, where public dissent tends to find its way into the international media because it has a closer institutional and political alignment with the central government that drives down controversy and discord. Show This alignment, in turn, reveals the extent of Beijing's influence—even limiting foreign judges' ability to take part in decisions on national security—a provision originally intended to preserve judicial independence following the handover from Portugal.

The local media's lack of attention to Macau's political and economic intricacies is a crucial factor, too. Being a secondary financial centre behind Hong Kong, with a less excitable population, excludes it from the international news. Others need to pay attention to its potential geopolitical function as a bridge between China and the Lusophone world or its strategic importance, into which it fits best: a quiet but highly relevant player in regional politics. Having clarified these various limitations and distinctions, the following section will elaborate on how Macau's current geopolitical and economic locale presents an opportunity to remake its international voice. Macau could escape the shadow of its more brightly coloured neighbour by playing on its unique Lusophone connections and presenting itself as a stable entry point to China.

Conclusion: Why It is Time for Macau to Step into the Spotlight

As Macau celebrates over two decades since its handover to China, its geopolitical and cultural potential has yet to be explored. The city's Lusophone heritage offers a distinctive edge as a diplomatic and economic bridge between China and Portuguese-speaking nations, a connection that could complement China's Belt and Road ambitions. While overshadowed by Hong Kong's prominence as a financial hub and political focal point, Macau's alignment with Beijing's policies has fostered stability, creating a quieter yet promising platform for collaboration and innovation.

The time is ripe for Macau to redefine its global role. Its growing integration into the Greater Bay Area, alongside initiatives such as Forum Macao, positions the city as an underappreciated asset for fostering Sino-Lusophone ties and advancing China's soft power. By leveraging these advantages, Macau could emerge as a regional outlier and a crucial player in connecting cultures, economies, and diplomatic efforts.

Policymakers, businesses, and academics must revisit and amplify Macau's relevance in a rapidly evolving global landscape. This forgotten state has the tools and history of serving as a linchpin for future global partnerships—if only we remember to look.