Vol. 16 No. 2, TD2 (2026): Thematic Dossier - Portugal and China in International Relations: Historical Legacies and Contemporary Dynamics

In the context of the national interest of the Portuguese Republic, relations with China acquire particular strategic relevance. Portugal has frequently been characterized as a “special friend” of the People’s Republic of China in Europe (Wise, 2020) and, at times, even described as “China’s best friend in the European Union” (Wejchert, 2021, p. 3). Such labels invite critical scholarly reflection, moving beyond diplomatic rhetoric to interrogate the structural, strategic, and normative dimensions that underpin this relationship. They also open analytical space to assess how Portugal’s historical legacies with Portuguese speaking countries across Africa, Latin America, and Asia, its Atlantic and maritime orientation, and its membership in the European Union interact with and shape China’s evolving global strategy. 

The evolving dynamics of international relations between Portugal and China constitute a compelling field of scholarly inquiry, shaped by deep historical legacies, growing economic interdependence, and sustained strategic diplomatic engagement. The Sino Portuguese relationship is distinctive in comparative perspective, as it is rooted in several centuries of exchange and interaction, most notably embodied in Macao - a former territory under Portuguese administration and now a Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China.

This special issue of JANUS.NET, e journal of International Relations, entitled “Portugal, China, and International Relations”, invited contributions that critically examine the historical, political, economic, and cultural dimensions of the Sino Portuguese bilateral relationship. Contributors were encouraged to explore how interactions between Portugal and China shape broader processes of global governance, regional integration, and the formation of transnational networks.