Zheng He as China’s “Peace Envoy”: Reality or Myth?

Abstract

The People’s Republic of China celebrated the 600th anniversary of Admiral Zheng He’s maritime expeditions in 2005 by presenting him as a “peace envoy” who symbolized the Chinese spirit of good neighbourliness. Historical data, however, reveal that Zheng He used force against foreign rulers who refused to acknowledge China’s supremacy, refl ecting the early Ming dynasty’s imperialist policy. As a result, Zheng He could not be used as an example of “soft power” to convince the world of China’s pacifi st tradition.