Even at home, Zheng He, the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) eunuch who led China's most successful seafaring adventures in the 15th century, was relatively unknown compared to Christopher Columbus, Vasco da Gama, or Ferdinand Magellan.
Six hundred years ago yesterday, Zheng started out on his first overseas expedition that involved 27,000 people and 200 ships.
That was 87 years prior to Columbus' voyage across the Atlantic.
In six later voyages, his fleets sailed across the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans, reaching more than 30 countries and regions as far away as the east coast of Africa.
In his book 1421: The Year China Discovered The World, retired British submarine captain Garvin Menzies concludes Zheng and his fleets were the first in the world to draw a nautical chart, to sail to America, to pass the strait that was later named after Magellan, and the first to round the Cape of Good Hope.
Zheng He led a sixth overseas expedition in 1421.
Amid yesterday's fanfare marking the country's first Navigation Day, chosen to coincide with Zheng's historic maiden overseas voyage, the authorities were apparently preoccupied with rebuffing outside questions about modern day seafaring capabilities, which trail far behind contemporary marine powers.
The sudden prominence of Zheng represents a burning desire to drive home the non-aggressive nature of our strength.
In Zheng's time China had no close rival. The nation was the first in the world to have developed the might to possibly conquer, occupy, or colonize on foreign shores.
We did not harm others then, so why should we do so now?
This is exactly what the country's public relations managers desperately want to ask the world to ponder.
It is not difficult to convince other countries that China has a traditional fondness for peace and harmony.
Yet the rise of the Western powers was reminiscent of the merciless law of the jungle applied to the human world. How could China be an exception when it regains strength?
There is no way to tell whether or not China will become a threat as it has been described, except by examining pledges that a peaceful rise will be favored, as well as a persistent insistence on democracy, peace and equality in international relations.
Looking back on the country's past may help one understand some unchanging threads that weave through the evolution of the nation's view of the world.
Chinese vessels arrived at the Gulf, the Red Sea, and the east coast of Africa as early as the Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties.
Along with Zheng's legendary voyages, this is evidence that China chose to be a bringer of peace when it had the potential to be a bully.
Unlike later Western explorers driven by greed for gold, diamonds and fragrances, the mammoth fleet of the world's strongest navy at the time brought to foreign countries presents and advanced technology, and even helped mediate conflicts between indigenous clans.
One can see the difference in the firearms used by European explorers and the china presented as gifts by the Chinese that are displayed side by side in some African museums.
Six hundred years after Zheng, China cherishes a similar desire to befriend the world.
But regrettably its goodwill is demonized because established powers fear a resurgent China.
Talking about the frenzy over the alleged threat from China, then Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad once said that if China wanted to carry out aggression against foreign countries it could have done so 600 years ago.
While the country's strength could have prevailed anywhere within its reach, Zheng brought the Chinese emperor's wish to "share the blessing of peace" with overseas hosts.
Now it is up to the world to decide if it wants to share peace and prosperity with a friendly China.
(China Daily July 12, 2005)
