December 21, 1999	atimes.com

China Chinese troops enter Macau as Beijing looks to Taiwan By Clara Gomes MACAU - Macau has experienced its first full day under Chinese rule, its return to the mainland sealed by the entry of People's Liberation Army troops after handover rites rich with implications for a ''greater'' China. At noon on Monday, hundreds of PLA troops crossed into the border into Macau from the neighboring Chinese city of Zhuhai. Some 1,000 Chinese troops will remain in a garrison in this enclave of 430,000 people. The soldiers came in hours after Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio left Macau and flew to Bangkok, en route to visiting the former Portuguese colony of East Timor. ''Today it is strange to see all these Chinese flags around,'' Joyce Pina, a university student of both Portuguese and Chinese origin, said after Chinese troops came in aboard trucks and armored personnel carriers, as tens of thousands of people lined the streets waving banners of welcome. ''The same people that carried Portuguese flags yesterday carry Chinese and MSAR (Macau Special Administrative Region) flags today. And they look as happy, which is good but a little strange.'' The handover ceremonies, which proceeded with much less controversy than Hong Kong's, marked not only the end of 442 years of Portuguese rule but closed the chapter on European colonization of Asia. But if for the Portuguese the handover evoked mostly past history - Sampaio called it ''a unique moment in the history of Macau'' - for the Chinese it was much more than that. Chinese President Jiang Zemin, who had told reporters he was in a ''good mood'', said Macau now faces a ''brand new area of development''. He welcomed its mostly Chinese residents to the ''embrace of the motherland''. Jiang, who also took part in the handover of Hong Kong more than two years ago, said reunification with Taiwan was the next step in China's efforts to unification of the mainland. ''This marks significant progress made by the Chinese people in accomplishing the great task of national reunification,'' he said. ''The Chinese government and people are confident and capable of an early settlement of the Taiwan question and the complete national reunification.'' Countries across Asia saw the Macau handover as reaffirming a rejuvenated China, finally able to get back the last piece of its territory dominated by foreigners over the centuries. ''China, with Hong Kong and Macau now back in the fold, is no ordinary China. It is Greater China in the truest sense of the word,'' said the Bangkok-based Nation newspaper. But such comparisons evoke concern in Taiwan, where local media hailed Macau's return as a glorious triumph for the mainland but called it a completely different case. ''Taiwan, unlike Hong Kong or Macau, is not a colony,'' argued the Liberty Times, saying the island's future would be determined by its own people. Not much feels different for many Macau residents as yet, save for the symbols that were changed overnight - such as the lotus-flower flag of what is now the Macau Special Administrative Region. On Sunday evening, the Portuguese flag was lowered for the last time at the Praia Grande Palace and given to Rocha Vieira, the last governor of Macau, who clutched it with evident sadness. Behind him, the president of the Legislative Assembly and members of the last Portuguese government tried to hold back tears, while from the back some cried 'Viva Portugal!' Near the river, the farewell became more joyful with a colorful show of lights and poetry, representing the Portuguese arrival in this part of the world. Rocha Vieira used the words of the famous Portuguese poet, Fernando Pessoa, to invoke the deeds of the Portuguese sailors that arrived in these waters more than 450 years ago. Behind the festivities, though, lurk some concerns about the future of Macau, including worries about the quality of the local judiciary, Chinese implementation of the ''one country, two systems'' rule and the economic fortunes of a tiny enclave that relies on gambling for 60 percent for its revenues. ''The territory's inhabitants will continue to enjoy the rights, liberties and guarantees that are the heritage of their way of life and which led to this land's individuality and prosperity,'' Sampaio also said in his speech. For his part, Jiang pointed out: ''Macau inhabitants, irrespective of race and belief, will all be masters of this land, enjoying, as equals, the rights and freedoms guaranteed by law.'' However, many say the Portuguese administration is leaving behind a weak judicial system, with most local judges having inadequate experience. Likewise, the Court of Final Appeal is not established, and the teaching of law at the University of Macau began only 10 years ago. This may well have implications for legal and political administration and the continuation of the present way of life here. Macau's ''special identity'' also may be changed by other forces, including the entry of migrants from the mainland. Already more than half of Macau residents were born in China and have little affinity for its unique heritage. (Inter Press Service)

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