What If China Had Colonized the World Instead of Europe?

By Mika Horelli – BRUSSELS Tensions between the Western world and China are growing as China expands its influence not only in its own region but also globally. Is China, then, continuing something it once mistakenly left unfinished?

What if, during this festive season when we often reflect on history, we took a moment to speculate about an alternate timeline? Imagine a world where China’s Ming Dynasty had continued its ambitious voyages of exploration in the 15th century. Led by Admiral Zheng He, the Chinese “treasure fleets” were technological marvels, capable of reaching distant shores from Southeast Asia to the African coastline. But what if they had gone even further, crossing the Pacific or the Atlantic, reaching the Americas long before Columbus? Would China have become the dominant global power, leaving Europe in its shadow? Could the world as we know it have been shaped by Chinese influence instead of European?

Zheng He’s expeditions demonstrated the Ming Dynasty’s extraordinary maritime capabilities. Their treasure ships dwarfed European vessels of the same period, and their logistical expertise was unmatched. If these voyages had continued, it’s entirely possible that Chinese sailors would have discovered the Americas. In this alternate scenario, history might have unfolded quite differently.

Historically, China approached international relations through a tributary system, emphasizing hierarchical partnerships rather than conquest or colonization. If the Ming Dynasty had expanded its reach to the Americas and beyond, it’s conceivable that they would have established trade networks or tributary relationships with local societies, rather than engaging in the kind of aggressive colonization seen in later European empires. Indigenous communities may have retained more autonomy under such a system, provided they acknowledged China’s supremacy.

Alternatively, China’s technological and economic advantages might have allowed it to dominate the world stage, preventing European powers from pursuing their own age of exploration and colonization. Had China reached the Americas first, Europe might have remained a peripheral player in global affairs. The balance of power could have tilted toward a Chinese-led world order, with Western nations falling into China’s sphere of influence. How different would Western life be today if it had been shaped by Chinese governance, culture, and technology?

However, the inward-facing nature of Ming governance cannot be overlooked. The dynasty’s decision to end its voyages was driven by fears of foreign influence, a desire to control trade, and the costs of maintaining such ambitious expeditions. Even if China had discovered new lands, its expansionist ambitions might have been limited by internal political and economic factors. Over time, they might have focused on consolidating their power within their borders rather than building a vast overseas empire.

Had China succeeded in establishing global dominance, the trajectory of cultural and political development would likely have been very different. Perhaps Chinese characters would have become the global writing system, or Chinese administrative traditions might have shaped the way modern states function. On the other hand, the emphasis on harmony and continuity in Chinese culture might have stifled the competitive innovation that has driven much of the modern world’s technological and scientific advancements.

Speculating about such an alternate history is fascinating but inherently uncertain. History is often shaped by unexpected events and individual decisions. While the Ming Dynasty’s choice to withdraw from exploration was one of history’s great turning points, there’s no guarantee that their voyages would have permanently reshaped the world. Would they have established colonies or simply influenced the regions they visited? Would their power have endured, or would it have waned in the face of internal challenges?

Regardless of the answers, pondering this alternative timeline offers a window into how small decisions can alter the course of history. Perhaps today we would see Chinese-drawn world maps and navigate a world shaped by Chinese exploration, had one emperor made a different choice nearly six centuries ago.