Special administrative region

Special Administrative Region (SAR), political subdivision of the People's Republic of China. China at present has two SARs: Hong Kong and Macau. SARs are provided by the Chinese constitution with a large degree of internal autonomy, a separate (semi-democratic) politicial system and a capitalist economy.

China has offered Taiwan a similar status to that of an SAR if it accepts mainland rule; however Taiwan refuses to accept the offer.

The SARs of China are members of the WTO, even though they are not soverign states, because they form their own customs areas and hence have their own international trade policies.