Published: January 8th, 2024,
Last updated: January 8th, 2024
If China uses its admiral Zheng He (1371-1433) to give its good relations with Africa a historical underpinning, the West sees this as propaganda and manipulation. In contrast, Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama, who reached the same African coasts a generation later, is widely recognized as a great explorer. Yet he has long been disputed for his acts of violence against civilians.