In terms of political sovereignty, Hong Kong and Macau become integrated with the People’s Republic of China in 1997 and 1999 respectively. Since Taiwan lifted its state of emergency in 1988 a rapprochement with the mainland has, at least, been placed on the agenda. So the China circle concept clearly has a political reality about it. Economic integration, most evidenced by the movement of capital and manufacturing resources into the mainland from Hong Kong and Taiwan, and by the burgeoning re-export trade, is also well documented. These are some of macro indicators of what may be the emerging China Circle political economy.
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Photo by Hei Lau
