The Paradox of China - 1

China - today a world power increasingly billed as being the most dynamic and promising in the early, globalized, 21st century - was not always so open-minded. In 2011, the energetic and forceful British historian Niall Ferguson made a contentious and exciting BBC series in which he argued that the West had since late medieval times surpassed the East; but that in our present age, it no longer enjoyed what he calls the 'sweet spot' (historically, geographically) from which any successful empire radiates its power and control. In this extract, the voyage of Zheng He to East Africa, bringing back a giraffe, has pride of place; this dates from about 1415; and happens shortly before the Chinese volte-face a generation later, which put paid to further expansion and consigned Zheng He to oblivion. Today the wheel has come full circle: with its ambitious 'Road and Belt' initiative, China is again taking upon itself the mantle previously worn by Zheng He. These are intriguing developments; and China should be carefully watched to see what it does next!