In recent years, with the approach of the 600th anniversary of Admiral Zheng He's maiden expedition to Southeast Asia, some historians began to re-examine the nature and impact of the Admiral's expeditions. Lectures, articles and books have been published and many more are still being published. These publications and activities have enriched our understanding of the subject matter. While some writers argue the positive aspects of the Zheng He voyages, others are critical, and even consider Zheng He as an aggressor and a colonialist.

Dr Geoff Wade, a senior visiting research fellow at the Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore, belongs to the latter. He presented his theory that is contrary to many scholars’ view. He is of the opinion that Admiral Zheng He's voyages were aggressive and colonialistic in nature — in fact, acts of invasion.

This essay examines some of the arguments presented by Dr Wade in his article entitled “Ming China and Southeast Asia in the 15th Century: A Reappraisal” and his seminar at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) as reported in the Straits Times and Lianhe Zaobao. I will concentrate on his arguments regarding Zheng He's expeditions to South and Southeast Asia. Wade argues that:

1. Zheng He was a territorial expansionist of the Ming Dynasty, a proto-colonialist;

2. He led a fleet and established bases, colonies and commercial strongholds in Southeast Asia, similar to those of the Portuguese;

3. He launched military actions in Sumatra, Java, Palembang and Ceylon during his seven expeditions to the West Ocean.

In short, Zheng He's seven expeditions to the West Ocean were colonizing expansion and invasion, no different from the Portuguese colonization and invasion in the 16th century. Dr Wade has based his arguments on the Chinese sources, to which he added his own interpretations. He mentioned various events to substantiate his views. My essay also uses mainly Chinese sources but comes to a different conclusion. Let us start with the composition of the Zheng He fleets.