Security Brief for Macau SAR / Zhuhai prepared on: Jul 12, 2021 8:24:49 PM UTC

Security Assessment Rating Security Rating for Macau SAR / 2 - Low Zhuhai:

Sub-Ratings 1 2 3 4 5 Crime 2 Overall Rating: Security Services 2 2 Civil Unrest 2 Low Terrorism 1 2

Security Overview : Overview of Macau SAR / Zhuhai Maucau is a safe travel destination, and most visits are incident-free. Petty and opportunistic crime pose a limited threat in touristic locales. Civil and labor unrest is rare. There are no known terrorist groups operating in the territory, and the risk of conflict is negligible.

No Current Security Alerts

Other Alerts & Advisories Critical Alerts

Entry/Exit: Macau continues to adjust COVID-19 entry, quarantine requirements as of July 11. Travel from Guangdong Province, China, permitted. Incident: COVID-19 restrictions Location(s): Macau (map) Time Frame: Indefinite Impact: Travel and business disruptions

Summary Officials in Macau continue to adjust border restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Citizens of mainland China, Macau, Hong Kong, and Taiwan can enter the territory if they have not been to other locations in the previous 21 days. Individuals from most low-risk areas of mainland China, including Guangdong Province, can enter Macau without quarantine with a negative PCR COVID-19 test result taken within seven days of arrival. Travelers from medium- and high-risk areas of mainland China must quarantine for 14 days at designated hotels. As of July 11, the requirements are in place for travelers from the following location:

Yunnan Province: Ruili City, Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture

Officials require travelers that visited Taiwan within 21 days of arrival to take a COVID-19 test within 24 hours of arrival and quarantine for 21 days at a government-designated facility, followed by an additional seven days of self-health management. Self-health management entails restricting travel to work or school, wearing a facemask in public, and twice-daily temperature checks. Permitted travelers from Hong Kong must provide a negative COVID-19 test result taken within 24 hours of arrival, quarantine for 14 days, and undergo an additional seven days of self-health management. Affected people must receive a negative COVID-19 test result the day before the management period ends or depart Macau during the management period.

The government continues to ban most foreign nationals from entering Macau. However, officials permit some international arrivals in the public interest, mainly medical and public service workers. Macau also allows foreigners in the mainland for the previous 21 days to enter under certain circumstances. Foreigners that initiated travel from Macau and possess a visa from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Macau may reenter the territory. Dependents of Macau residents, work permit or Certificate of Residence Authorization holders, or attendees at business or academic events, can apply for an exemption to enter Macau from mainland China without a visa. Returning citizens and permitted international travelers from international locations must take a COVID-19 test within 72 hours of departure, quarantine for 21 days at a designated location upon arrival, and undergo self- health management for seven more days. Officials can increase quarantine to 28 days if passengers return a positive serological test result. Passengers that visited Brazil, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and the Philippines within 28 days of arrival must present three negative PCR COVID-19 test results taken 24 hours apart, within seven days of arrival; the last test must take place within 72 hours of boarding flights. These travelers are subject to a 28-day quarantine in designated facilities. Authorities will extend quarantine to 35 days for individuals that have a positive serological test result. Travelers must pay quarantine fees; locals are exempt from the quarantine fee for their first entry but must pay for subsequent quarantine periods unless traveling for select purposes.

Officials have introduced a closed management system with Hong Kong for cargo crews. The program exempts shipping crew members from quarantine regulations if they undergo COVID-19 testing weekly, maintain adequate health standards, and refrain from disembarking in Hong Kong.

Transport between Macau and Hong Kong remains available only via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge. Several airlines have suspended flights at Macau International Airport (MFM); further flight cancellations are possible amid low demand. Authorities have also canceled ferry services from Dongguan; ferry service disruptions from Shenzhen and Zhuhai are also possible.

Domestic Restrictions Authorities require travelers and residents to register their address or most frequented locations to receive a health code. Macau still requires COVID-19 testing for people attending social gatherings of more than 400 people. Facemasks remain mandatory in casinos, government offices, and on public transport. Thermal scanners are in place at all entry points into Macau, casinos, and many other businesses.

Advice Follow all official instructions. Consider postponing travel to Macau if impacted by travel restrictions. Allow additional time for immigration and health screenings. Delay travel if experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, as they may prompt increased scrutiny, immigration delays, or mandatory quarantine. Confirm reservations and business appointments.

Resources Macau Health Bureau (Chinese and Portuguese) Macau Higher Education Bureau

Alert begins: 07/06/2021

Entry/Exit: China continues enforcing certain COVID-19 restrictions as of July 8. Entry ban for most foreigners ongoing; testing, quarantine required. Incident: COVID-19 restrictions Location(s): Mainland China (map) Time Frame: Indefinite Impact: Transport and business disruptions

Summary Authorities in mainland China continue to enforce restrictions amid ongoing COVID-19 concerns. Domestically, the government implements restrictions based on the level of disease activity, with the following risk designations in effect:

Low risk: Locations with no new confirmed COVID-19 cases and no confirmed cases within 14 consecutive days Medium risk: Areas where COVID-19 activity does not exceed 50 cases within 14 days, or more than 50 cases have occurred but not within 14 days; no clusters reported within two weeks High risk: Places where new confirmed COVID-19 cases surpass 50, and a cluster has emerged within 14 days

As of early July, officials only classify areas of Ruili City, Yunnan Province, as medium risk. Individuals residing in or having recent travel history to high- and medium-risk areas face travel, movement, and gathering restrictions. Authorities often lock down specific communities in these locations, requiring residents to remain in their homes or provide a negative COVID-19 test result before departing the affected area. Local governments often carry out several rounds of mass testing in medium- or high-risk areas. Officials will continue to erect roadblocks and checkpoints on routes into any high- and medium-risk areas of cities and counties in response to future outbreaks. Authorities may ban outbound travel or require testing before residents can leave.

Local governments may require health checks at airports, train stations, and subway stations, regardless of risk level, increasing travel times. Public transport operators in most major cities require passengers to share health code information before boarding mass transit.

Travel Restrictions The government continues to ban most foreign nationals from entering China. However, foreigners from most countries with valid residence permits for work, family visits, and personal matters can enter the country. Some immediate family members of foreign employees may obtain entry permission for emergency humanitarian purposes. Specially designated foreign workers with invitation letters from provincial or municipal government officials can also enter the country. Foreigners traveling for work, business, or humanitarian reasons can apply for visas without invitation letters if fully inoculated with Chinese-produced COVID-19 vaccines. Officials ban most foreign travelers from Bangladesh, Belgium, France, India, Italy, the Philippines, Russia, and the UK, regardless of residency status, unless they have received Chinese-made COVID-19 vaccines. Diplomatic personnel and C visa holders, generally flight and shipping crew members, are exempt from entry bans regardless of country of origin. Officials have also banned flights to and from the UK until further notice.

Essential business travel from Singapore and South Korea can occur under fast-track arrangements. Travel is possible between Singapore and Guangdong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Chongqing, Shanghai, and Tianjin. A fast-track arrangement for business travelers from South Korea to ten Chinese locations, including Shanghai and Liaoning, Shandong, Jiangsu, and Anhui provinces, is also in place. Companies or government agencies can apply for special passes for inbound visitors, who must test negative for COVID-19 within 48 hours of departure from Singapore or within 72 hours of departure from South Korea and obtain a visa. Passengers must undergo COVID-19 testing upon arrival in China and self-isolate at designated facilities until their results are available. Singapore travelers must also adhere to a preplanned itinerary, refrain from using public transport - except for private hire vehicles - for the first 14 days, and download and use a health pass while in the country. Arriving passengers testing positive for COVID-19 will undergo treatment at their own expense.

Authorities require most inbound passengers to take a nucleic acid COVID-19 test at designated facilities in the country of origin within three days of departure. Officials require all authorized inbound passengers from specified countries to provide evidence of both nucleic acid COVID-19 and IgM antibody tests from designated facilities in the departure country within 48 hours of boarding flights. Travelers from affected locations must also undergo additional COVID-19 tests in each country they transit. Passengers who test positive for COVID-19 antibodies may be allowed to enter China if they have documentation showing they are fully vaccinated. The measure applies to travelers from Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cote d'Ivoire, Denmark, Egypt, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, the UAE, the UK, the US, and Vietnam. Authorities could expand testing requirements to other countries at short notice. Most travelers, regardless of nationality or residency, are barred from using land border crossings. Exceptions are in place for cargo transport, though backlogs remain possible at border checkpoints.

All authorized passengers must apply for a health certificate via the local Chinese diplomatic mission before travel. Chinese citizens must update their information through WeChat to obtain a health code before boarding flights. The government continues to conduct health screenings, including body temperature scans and nucleic acid testing, at ports of entry nationwide. International arrivals in some locations, including Beijing, Shanghai, and Qingdao, are subject to mandatory anal COVID-19 swabs. Most international travelers must quarantine for 14 days; officials generally allow nonresident passengers to stay in government-designated hotels at their own cost. However, some governments require inbound travelers to self-quarantine and undergo medical observation for an additional 7-14 days. All arrivals must receive a negative COVID-19 test result in quarantine before release from designated facilities.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) manages international airline flight volume based on COVID- 19 testing outcomes for passengers. Authorities could suspend a carrier's route at short notice if more than five passengers test positive for COVID-19. Chinese and US regulators continue to limit available outbound flights to eight per week. Authorities also restrict Chinese airlines' international operations and limit capacity on aircraft. Some airlines continue to suspend services to and from mainland China due to significantly decreased demand. Advice Consider postponing nonessential travel to mainland China. Confirm all scheduled international flights. Consult airlines and Chinese diplomatic facilities for details on restrictions prior to any travel. Follow all official instructions and closely monitor official announcements on any other precautionary restrictions. Confirm all travel and business reservations. Allow additional travel time due to screenings at airports, train stations, and other transport hubs. Make allowances for possible business disruptions.

Resources Beijing Capital International Airport Shanghai Airport Authority Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport World Health Organization

Alert begins: 07/08/2021 Informational Alerts

Health: COVID-19 activity continues across several Western Pacific countries and territories as of June 24. Maintain basic health precautions. Incident: COVID-19 transmission Location(s): Western Pacific (map) Period: May-June 2021 Transmission: Respiratory (coughing, sneezing, speaking)

Summary Several countries and territories continue to report COVID-19 transmission as of June 24. The following countries and territories have identified confirmed COVID-19 May 27-June 24. Countries are classified by risk of transmission according to the incidence rate over the past four weeks:

Very high risk of transmission

Malaysia

High risk of transmission

Fiji Philippines Cambodia Guam

Moderate risk of transmission

Japan French Polynesia

Low risk of transmission

Taiwan South Korea Papua New Guinea Singapore Brunei Darussalam Laos Australia Vietnam New Caledonia New Zealand Hong Kong SAR Samoa Macau SAR Solomon Islands Mainland China

Background and Analysis COVID-19 is a viral respiratory disease caused by infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Human-to-human transmission does occur, primarily through respiratory droplets from infected individuals or contact with contaminated surfaces or objects. Symptoms occur 1-14 days following exposure (average of 3-7 days). These symptoms typically include fever, fatigue, and dry cough; less common symptoms include headache, diarrhea, loss of taste or smell, reddening of the eyes, skin rash, or discoloration of the fingers or toes. Symptoms may worsen to difficulty breathing, pneumonia, and organ failure - especially in those with underlying, chronic medical conditions. Some infected individuals display no symptoms. Multiple variants of COVID-19 have been identified globally, some of which spread more easily between people. COVID-19 vaccines are being distributed to frontline workers and the elderly in some countries, while other vaccines are in varying stages of development and clinical trials; more data is required to determine the efficacy of vaccines against COVID-19 variants.

Older individuals and people of any age with chronic medical conditions or compromised immunity should consider postponing nonessential travel, including domestic travel, and take special precautions to avoid becoming ill, especially where sustained community transmission of COVID-19 is ongoing. All individuals should monitor their health and limit interactions with others for 14 days after returning from travel.

Advice Emphasize basic health precautions, especially frequent handwashing with soap and water, or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are unavailable. Practice good coughing/sneezing etiquette (i.e., covering coughs and sneezes with a disposable tissue, maintaining distance from others, and washing hands). There is no evidence that the influenza vaccine, antibiotics, or antiviral medications will prevent this disease, highlighting the importance of diligent basic health precautions.

Resources WHO coronavirus knowledge base WHO: Public health considerations while resuming international travel US CDC: Guidance for Businesses and Workplaces US CDC: Preventing COVID-19 Spread in Communities Mental Health Considerations during COVID-19 Outbreak US CDC: Manage Anxiety and Stress New England Journal of Medicine: COVID-19 FAQs

Alert begins: 06/25/2021

Security Intelligence

SECURITY

Civil Unrest: Civil Unrest - Macau SAR

Crime: Crime - Macau SAR

Kidnapping/Hostage Situation: Kidnapping/Hostage Situation - Macau SAR

Security Services: Security Services - Macau SAR

Terrorism: Terrorism - Macau SAR

Armed Conflict: Armed Conflict - China

Long-standing political tensions exist between the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the government ruling Taiwan (officially the Republic of China). The PRC claims all ROC-controlled territory, including Taiwan and nearby islands, as rightful parts of the PRC. The ROC government took refuge in Taiwan in 1949 after its defeat on the Chinese mainland during the Chinese Civil War. Despite the longstanding political dispute, significant economic and social links exist between the PRC and ROC. Taipei's political ties with Beijing have worsened since the accession of Tsai-Ing Wen of the Democratic Progressive Party to the Taiwanese presidency in May 2016. Beijing suspected direct political contacts with Taipei in 2016 after Tsai refused to endorse the idea of a single Chinese nation, as dictated by the so-called '1992 Consensus', which Beijing sees as a pre-condition for the basis of political relations. The PRC has also increased diplomatic, economic, and military pressure on the ideologically pro-independence administration[RL1] . Taiwan's military ties with the United States are a further cause of contention which has led to a build-up of military installations on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

China has territorial disputes with several of its neighbors. In recent years, China has pursued increasingly assertive tactics in the South and East China Seas as it has advanced its longstanding territorial claims, inciting criticism from co-claimant countries, the US, and Australia, . China and Japan both lay claim to the Diaoyu (Senkaku in Japanese) Islands in the East China Sea, which have been disputed since 1972.

China is also engaged in a long-running border dispute with India over several areas along their frontier. The dispute has prompted engagements along the 'Line of Actual Control' (LAC) separating the two sides. Tensions escalated in mid-2020 after deadly clashes broke out between Indian and Chinese military forces. The 2020 incident was the first deadly clash along the frontier since the 1960s.

Beijing is also embroiled in multilateral territorial disputes with Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Taipei, over sections of the South China Sea. Chinese forces have long occupied many of the islands, despite objections from the other claimants, most of whom also have some military deployments in the area. In recent years, Beijing has increasingly asserted its sovereignty, most notably, by creating harbors and outposts on artificial reefs and increasing maritime patrols. These developments have coincided with China's increased military investment and southern projection of power over the past several years, aggravating extant tensions.

Civil Unrest: Civil Unrest generally poses a moderate threat in China

Civil and labor unrest in China can generate localized instability, although major demonstrations and protest activity are rare. Common triggers include environmental pollution, industrial grievances, opposition to local commercial projects and land disputes, and seizures, as well as a perceived lack of accountability by government officials. Collective protests by China's workers are typically small-scale and spontaneous, and are intended to expose and resist violations of basic labor rights by employers. Such events typically occur in China's primary manufacturing centers such as Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Tianjin.

A wave of factory worker protests across the country in 2014 was a major cause for concern for the CCP and the manufacturing industry, and the government has since taken conciliatory steps such as incrementally raising the minimum wage to prevent further strikes. The general decline and consolidation of manufacturing in China have also resulted in the remaining large-scale factories generally offering acceptable pay and working conditions. Nonetheless, authorities are typically quick to quash any form of unrest, and this can occasionally lead to participants clashing with security personnel. For the most part, protest actions are directed at local authorities and firms, although bystanders and passers-by can be exposed to incidental violence.

Ethnic tensions have led to recurrent violence in China's Xinjiang region. Tensions between the ethnically Turkic Muslim Uighurs and the majority Han Chinese, stemming from Beijing's perceived repressive policies against the former, have escalated into a number of seemingly targeted attacks in the volatile region and other parts of the country in recent years. However, disruptive unrest has declined significantly since around 2017, as the Chinese government has increased surveillance and implemented mass detentions of individuals suspected of harboring antigovernment sentiment. Pro-democracy protests have occurred in the Hong Kong Special Administration Region. Demonstrations in Hong Kong decreased significantly in size and frequency from 2020 following the introduction of a controversial national security law. However, further rounds of disruptive protests are possible.

Contacts and Communication: Emergency numbers and embassy contacts in China Familiarize yourself with the location and contact details of other foreign embassies in case your country's embassy closes due to an emergency or some other unexpected circumstances. Another embassy can often provide assistance in such cases.

Emergency contact numbers for China:

POLICE 110 FIRE 119 AMBULANCE 120 Contact information for select embassies in China:

If you are calling from outside China, dial +86 first.

Australia - Embassy India - Embassy

21 Dongzhimenwai Dajie Sanlitun 5, Liang Ma Qiao Bei Jie Beijing Chaoyang District Phone: +86 10.5140.4111 Beijing 100600 Fax: +86 10.5140.4204 Phone: +86 10.8531.2500 www.china.embassy.gov.au Fax: +86 10.8531.2515 www.indianembassy.org.cn Japan - Embassy South Korea - Embassy

Liang Ma Qiao Street No. 20 Dongfangdong Lu Chaoyang District, No. 1 Chaoyang District Beijing 100600 Beijing Phone: +86 10.8531.9800 Phone: +86 10.8531.0700 Fax: +86 10.6532.7081 Fax: +86 10.8531.0726 www.cn.emb-japan.go.jp http://chn.mofa.go.kr/ United Kingdom - Embassy United States - Embassy

11 Guang Hua Lu No. 55 An Jia Lou Lu Jian Guo Men Wai Beijing 100600 Beijing Phone: +86 10.8531.3000 Phone: +86 10.5192.4000 Fax: +86 10.8531.4200 Fax: +86 10.5192.4239 http://beijing.usembassy.gov www.gov.uk/government/world/china

Crime: Crime generally poses a low threat in China

China's overall crime rate is relatively low, although rates of petty crime are a concern in major urban centers like Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Shenzhen, where income disparity and an influx of migrant workers have been the main driving forces behind recent increases in illicit activities. Crimes affecting foreigners tend to be mostly opportunistic and non-violent in nature, and include the theft of unattended items and bag- snatching/pickpocketing, especially in crowded areas such as markets, transportation hubs, and shopping districts.

Foreigners using unregistered or 'black' taxi cabs have reported either being charged exorbitant fees or having their luggage stolen. There have also been reports of tourists using rickshaws or pedicabs, particularly in the Tiananmen Square and Houhai Park areas of Beijing, being taken through narrow streets and forced to hand over money.

Various financial scams, including credit card, phone, and internet-based schemes, have increasingly targeted foreign travelers. A common tactic involves a young Chinese person with marked proficiency in English befriending foreigners on the street and offering them a drink in a tea house or bar. An exorbitant bill will then be presented and physical threats will be made to ensure payment. Counterfeit Chinese currency is prevalent throughout the country and fraudulent notes are often distributed during transactions at restaurants, stores, taxis, and ATMs. Counterfeit notes ranging from 10 RMB to 100 RMB are in wide circulation.

Violence against foreigners remains rare, and mainly occurs outside bars and nightclubs in larger urban cities. Incidents consist mostly of muggings and sexual assaults, often fuelled by alcohol, racism or xenophobic sentiments. However, there has also been a series of high-profile stabbing and arson attacks over the past few years that were blamed on both mental illness problems amid rapid social change, as well as personal and financial disputes. In some of the cases, local government offices and schools have been targeted.

The use of firearms in China is rare due to strict regulations on the manufacture and sale of guns.by the CCP. However, armed robberies occasionally occur in main urban centers and their immediate environs. Armed banditry and muggings have also been reported on less well-policed mountainous highways near the country's southern border with Nepal.

Recent statistics suggest that drug-related crimes have been on the rise, and are largely concentrated in Guangdong, Chongqing, Zhejiang, Yunnan, and Jiangsu. Drug smuggling activities have spread from China's immediate neighbors and coastal areas to inland regions. According to the China National Narcotics Control Commission, more than three-quarters of illegal drugs seized were manufactured in the country, while the much of the rest came from the "Golden Triangle" where Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand converge, and the "Golden Crescent" comprising of Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

Related Advice: Protecting yourself from carjacking and reacting when it happens. Related Advice: Strategies for reducing the risk of becoming a victim of LGBT hate crime.

Geopolitical: The geopolitical threat in China is moderate President Xi Jinping further consolidated power after securing a second term at the ruling Communist Party's 19th Congress in October 2017 and is not expected to face any challenges to his leadership in the short-to- medium term. Under Xi, China has embarked on an aggressive anti-corruption drive since 2012 that has resulted in the arrests of several hundred high-level officials. Nonetheless, despite the implementation of various anti- corruption laws, regulations, and institutions, corruption remains an issue in the country. China's judiciary is subject to influence by the Communist Party, and the government has been known to intervene in disputes.

Kidnapping/Hostage Situation: The threat of kidnapping in China is moderate

Kidnapping

The threat of kidnapping in China is moderate. Kidnappers are more likely to target locals, although foreigners are occasionally affected.The most common types of abduction in China include basic opportunistic kidnap-for- , , , politically-motivated abductions, and virtual kidnapping. Victims may face the threat of injury or death during confinement.

Security Services: Security Services generally pose a low threat in China

Security Services

The capabilities and responsiveness of security services in China are generally adequate in cities and tourist regions but can be poor in rural and less-developed areas of the country (risk is low). Although China has a number of different security forces, officers of the Public Security Bureau (PSB) are likely to be the most relevant for foreign nationals and local staff. PSB Officers who are not stationed in popular tourist areas are typically unable to speak foreign languages fluently, but in large cities will almost always be able to procure an English- speaking colleague to assist in any police or security matter. Foreign nationals should avoid contact with military security forces known as the People's Armed Police (PAP) whenever possible and instead liaise with regular PSB police officers or their diplomatic mission.

Foreigners deemed suspicious by government security officers may be placed under surveillance. Hotel staff members and tour operators sometimes keep tabs on tourists for government authorities. Foreign visitors of Chinese descent and those involved in sensitive political or religious activities are much more likely to be monitored or detained than others. Terrorism: Terrorism generally poses a low threat in China

Historically, terrorism-related activity has been concentrated in China's northwest Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, where some members of the ethnic Uighur minority group have been fighting a low-level separatist insurgency. The region has experienced small-scale, sporadic bomb attacks directed at the local government and/or security forces, predominantly attributed to the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM). Some attacks by ethnic Uighur militants have also occurred outside of Xinjiang, most notably a mass stabbing incident that occurred in Kunming, Yunnan Province, in 2014. Increased security measures, however, have significantly reduced the frequency of terrorist incidents in the northwestern region, resulting in a significant decrease in reported militant activity, with no major attacks occurring since 2017.

There are also concerns over the reports of Uyghurs who are believed to have joined extremist organizations in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Thousands of Uyghurs are suspected to have joined international militant organizations fighting against government forces in Syria. Several militants have been killed or arrested in Indonesia after linking up with extremist organizations.

Additionally, there have been concerns over a rise in so-called lone-wolf attacks in urban areas. These attacks are usually prompted by an individual's discontent and personal frustration, often a sense of unjust treatment by local government officials and a lack of alternative channels for expressing grievances. Such attacks typically involve the use of bladed weapons or improvised explosives.

The Chinese government often refers to anti-government unrest and protest activities as acts of 'terrorism'. Critics have labeled this as an attempt to undermine the credibility of opposition movements. In 2019 terrorism warnings were issued for Hong Kong following disruptive protests in the territory. Although most protesters did not target bystanders, some violent attacks and minor bombings did occur.

Related Advice: Recognizing suspicious objects and the threat of hidden explosives while traveling Related Advice: General guidelines to protect yourself against terrorism.

Overview of China

The People's Republic of China (PRC) is a large country in East Asia that spans a vast array of different regions and cultures which are collectively governed by the Communist Party of China (CPC). As the world's most populous country and a leading economic powerhouse, China has become increasingly ambitious on the world stage under its current President Xi Jinping. Beijing's growing assertiveness has led to more fraught relations with some of its international partners, notably the US, with the two countries' battle over market access and advanced technologies likely to continue to generate geopolitical risks in the long term.

Over the last four decades, China has gone through a process of rapid economic development driven by exports and its globally dominant manufacturing industry. However, in recent years slowing economic growth rates have increased pressure on the Chinese Communist Party (CPP). In response, the central government has passed painful reforms, such as restructuring state-owned enterprises, although this has sparked a backlash in the form of mass demonstrations by workers across the country. Beijing has sought to minimize coverage of these protests and other instances of social unrest while increasing crackdowns on dissent.

China is selectively open to foreign investors. The CCP has pursued a dual-track reform program encouraging private sector growth while maintaining a strong state presence; companies operating in certain strategic sectors are mandated to form joint ventures with local companies. Despite anti-graft efforts by President Xi, corruption and poor protection of intellectual property rights pose significant challenges to those seeking to do business in the country.

China's infrastructure is sophisticated in urban areas but is less developed in more rural areas. The primary threats to foreign travelers include petty and opportunistic theft as well as environmental hazards. Ethnic tensions in the Tibet and Xinjiang autonomous regions occasionally cause violence, although they usually do not pose a direct threat to foreigners. Weather, Currency Exchange

MACAU SAR / ZHUHAI WEATHER CURRENCY EXCHANGE

Macao: 1 Chinese CURRENCY 1 Euro 1 Macau 1 US Yuan Jul 13 Jul 14 Jul 15 Jul 16 Jul 17 NAMES = Pataca = Dollar = Renminbi = Chinese Yuan High: High: High: High: High: 1.0000 7.6919 0.8112 6.4790 90° F 89° F 90° F 90° F 89° F Renminbi (32° C) (31° C) (32° C) (32° C) (31° C) Euro 0.1300 1.0000 0.1055 0.8423 Low: Low: Low: Low: Low: Macau Pataca 1.2328 9.4824 1.0000 7.9871 83° F 83° F 83° F 82° F 83° F (28° C) (28° C) (28° C) (27° C) (28° C) US Dollar 0.1543 1.1872 0.1252 1.0000

Disclaimer Travel information in this document and in the included links is provided by Crisis24 and/or its parents and subsidiaries ("WA"). While WA constantly monitors the changing world situation and strives for accuracy and timeliness, this information is provided to you on an "as is" basis, and your use of this information is at your own risk. © 2021, Crisis24 and/or its parents and subsidiaries.