While military action suppressed the pirates, a change in Ming maritime policy allowing overseas trade was instrumental in keeping them from rising again.<unk> While military action suppressed the pirates, a change in Ming maritime policy allowing overseas trade was instrumental in keeping them from rising again. ️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️ Provincial authorities had hoped that by opening trade, the economically marginalized of Guangdong would have legitimate livelihoods and would not need to descend into piracy. ️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️ In 1554, the provincial authorities entered into a historic agreement with the Portuguese <unk> who came back to Guangdong after their misfortunes at Zhejiang and Fujian <unk> where the Portuguese would be allowed to settle in Macau and trade in Guangzhou for an annual fee. In 1554, the provincial authorities entered into a historic agreement with the Portuguese <unk> who came back to Guangdong after their misfortunes at Zhejiang and Fujian <unk> where the Portuguese would be allowed to settle in Macau and trade in Guangzhou for an annual fee. Portuguese would thence help the Ming destroy pirate fleets in the area, for which they were eventually rewarded with the imperial acknowledgement of their occupation of Macau by the Wanli Emperor (r. <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk>
Macau was handed over to the People's Republic of China.<unk> Macau was handed over to the People's Republic of China.