The National Geographic is still displaying their Admiral Zheng He and the Ming Fleet exhibit at Explorer’s Hall in D.C..
There is no comparison. Zheng He and his officers were a tower of benevolence. He wanted only to open up trade routes and expand geographic knowledge. He pointedly avoided establishing colonies and, while he did get involved militarily in a few places, it was only to prop up local rulers who had signed treaties with China.
I can see this current wave getting involved militarily if local rulers even think of trying to kick them out and nationalize what they’ve built. Whether or not there is a strategic plan to export their surplus young men remains to be seen.
Excellent observation.
By the way, the more recent history of the Chinese in Africa includes building the East Africa Highway in the 1960s (which later beame a major conduit for HIV transmission). Crews of Chinese men built it: it would be interesting to find out if they left any genetic imprint in the population along that route.