I recently listened to a wonderful podcast on BBC about the life of “China’s Forgotten Admiral”, Zheng He. Zheng He, a Muslim eunuch, matched up the navigation technologies of the Arabs with the ship-building prowess of the Ming Dynasty to create the largest commercial armada the world had ever seen. The fleet sailed from the east coast of China around southeast Asia and into the Indian Sea to Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) and even to the east coast of Africa.

It seems that with in the modern age the Chinese have made the trek again, much to India’s consternation. The Indians and Chinese are already in contention over such issues as melting Himalayan glaciers, the Dalai Lama and China’s poke-you-in-the-eye support of Pakistan. Now China is providing funds to Sri Lanka to rebuild its war-torn infrastructure,

Meanwhile, all India seems to be able to do given its vast domestic challenges and querrelous and highly fragmented form of democracy is announce its displeasure with its ancient neighbor.

Though China is not seeking tribute from the smaller nations as it had six hundred years ago, the ghost of Zheng He is alive and well.

Further reading: NYT

Past posts:

China Overseas Investment: No Big Deal

New Prescription Needed: Blurring a Bi-polar World

Crouching Dragon, Flailing Elephant

For All the Tea in China: A Wonderful Book