The Ming declining mean the Ming have more immediate and local priorities, however.
And speaking of this question in general, a rather important question: Where are the materials to build these ships coming from?
I don't know the state of China's forests and such, but a large, powerful, ocean going fleet - even with the fact the size of the treasure ships has been grossly exaggerated* - needs an extraordinarily large amount of quality wood - for both masts and the hull.
I know the Chinese used bamboo to some extent, but even there - this isn't going to be in small quantities, whatever it may make up for in the "wood" department.
So the navy needs to be able to secure a supply of such resources reliably and affordably in order to even exist. How feasible this is, I leave to those who know China better than I do - but I do think it needs to be weighed in when determining what could have been.
* http://www.1421exposed.com/html/fathoming.html
And speaking of this question in general, a rather important question: Where are the materials to build these ships coming from?
I don't know the state of China's forests and such, but a large, powerful, ocean going fleet - even with the fact the size of the treasure ships has been grossly exaggerated* - needs an extraordinarily large amount of quality wood - for both masts and the hull.
I know the Chinese used bamboo to some extent, but even there - this isn't going to be in small quantities, whatever it may make up for in the "wood" department.
So the navy needs to be able to secure a supply of such resources reliably and affordably in order to even exist. How feasible this is, I leave to those who know China better than I do - but I do think it needs to be weighed in when determining what could have been.
* http://www.1421exposed.com/html/fathoming.html