Zheng He's voyages to Africa in the 15th century: the maritime silk and porcelain road

Abstract

From the perspective of the connections between this history and current conditions, Chinese naval voyages to the Gulf of Aden and the waters off Somalia today are a continuation and development of Zheng He's voyages to Africa, highlighting China's status in solving contemporary international issues and safeguarding global maritime security. For this reason, in this diachronic study, careful examination of Zheng He's visits to Africa and his relationship with the people there helps us understand the connections between those voyages and the current situation, spanning a space of six centuries, allowing us a clearer view of why Chinese naval escorts in the Gulf of Aden and the waters off Somalia are of such importance ' even necessity' today.