Contemporary politics and events

In the last 50 years China has faced series of disruptive socioeconomic events, a cultural revolution and reforms. The PRC government still enjoys almost absolute control over politics, and continually seeks to eradicate things it perceives as threats to the stability of the country. These can be terrorism but also political opponents and journalists. In 1989, the student protests at Tiananmen Square suffered a violent reaction by the military. Hong Kong (1997) and Macau (1999) have both been ceded to the PRC.