Zhenghe's colonies

Haha, you thought it was about the Chinese in America didn't you? Psych!

My question is actually about his real voyages. One of his goal was to seek tribute and impress other countries, but he was not afraid of military intervention if needed, overthrowing a king or two if memory serves right.

So, what if he actually set up shop somewhere? Say he actually conquers some city in Indonesia or India to ensure proper supply of pepper and luxury goods?
It would be a proper colony, administered by Chinese, like the Portuguese would do a century later.

Thoughts?
 
Haha, you thought it was about the Chinese in America didn't you? Psych!

My question is actually about his real voyages. One of his goal was to seek tribute and impress other countries, but he was not afraid of military intervention if needed, overthrowing a king or two if memory serves right.

So, what if he actually set up shop somewhere? Say he actually conquers some city in Indonesia or India to ensure proper supply of pepper and luxury goods?
It would be a proper colony, administered by Chinese, like the Portuguese would do a century later.

Thoughts?

There were already Chinese settlements in Southeast Asia before Zheng He’s voyages. The Chinese pirate Chen Zuyi was a king of Palembang who was deposed by Zheng and a Muslim Chinese king was installed in his place. Many of Zheng’s Muslim sailors also entered the service with various Muslim rulers in Java and helped turn the tide of Muslim dominance in Indonesia.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chen_Zuyi

So if a crown colony were to be setup, Palembang is one possible starting point. Maybe something like the Dutch model. Batavia (Jakarta) was colonized to control the lucrative spice islands trade in cloves, nutmeg and mace. But quickly evolved into the central hub where Chinese and Japanese manufactured goods and Indian cotton were purchased and resold throughout the region.
 
There were already Chinese settlements in Southeast Asia before Zheng He’s voyages. The Chinese pirate Chen Zuyi was a king of Palembang who was deposed by Zheng and a Muslim Chinese king was installed in his place. Many of Zheng’s Muslim sailors also entered the service with various Muslim rulers in Java and helped turn the tide of Muslim dominance in Indonesia.
Yep, but Chinese colonies were generally disavowed by the Central authorities, no?
They generally weren't in good favours anyway, so yes, I did mean crown colonies, managed from China
 
Yep, but Chinese colonies were generally disavowed by the Central authorities, no?
They generally weren't in good favours anyway, so yes, I did mean crown colonies, managed from China

I think they just never got a chance to find out how much money they could make controlling the spice islands,
 
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