• Xiangshan County is established, which is where Macau is administered.
  • The Chinese agree to have the Portuguese establish a settlement in Macau, but merely as a trading post.
  • The Portuguese in Macau declare the region as independent.
  • The Protocol of Lisbon lets the Chinese government recognize Macau's independence, as long as Portugal promises not to surrender Macau to another country without the permission of China.
  • Chinese communists and Macau citizens clash over the legitimacy of the Protocol of Lisbon; it ends with Portugal keeping Macau.
  • China and Portugal recognize Macau as a Chinese region under temporary Portuguese control.
  • Portugal agrees to return Macau back to full Chinese control.
  • Macau becomes a special administrative region under Chinese sovereignty. 

Sources:

BBC News open_in_new
Britannica open_in_new