China is making substantial investment in ports and pipelines worldwide

NO CHINESE REFERENCE to the maritime Silk Road is complete without mention of the voyages of Zheng He. The eunuch admiral, a Muslim at the Ming court, led seven voyages in the early 15th century in a fleet of vast sailing barges known as “treasure ships”. The official narrative is that he went abroad to spread peace, carrying treasures for the potentates he would meet from South-East Asia to east Africa. Back came fabulous curiosities, including a giraffe, which he fashioned as tribute to the emperor. The peaceful nature of Zheng’s trips is greatly embellished—the fleet was well armed and got into scuffles. But few tales better show the mix of hard power and emoluments that embodied imperial China’s tributary relations with others. Barbarians were worthy of engagement if they accepted China’s cultural and military superiority and moved into China’s orbit.