Trade is the exchange of economic energy. Having a powerful commercial and military fleet is crucial to be dominant in economic and political sense. Here I will give you in example of how the Chinese cut themselves off the potential global dominant position in the past (like they did when they banned the BTC miners). It's funny how history rhymes...

The destruction of the big fleet

In the Middle Ages, China had the largest fleet in the world, with up to 3,500 ships at its peak. Some of them were five times larger than the ships being built in Europe at the time. The fleet was part of the expansion policy of the Ming Dynasty and served to demonstrate China's power and wealth. The ships were heavily armed and carried large amounts of treasures.

The Chinese ships were technologically advanced and luxuriously equipped. The ships were up to 120 meters long, had multiple decks, up to nine masts, and twelve sails. The ships had luxurious cabins and balconies and a crew of up to 1,500 men.

China was economically and technologically advanced in the 1400s and had the opportunity to circumnavigate the world before the Europeans did. However, by 1525, all the ships of the Chinese treasure fleet had been destroyed - either burned in their docks or left to rot by the government. The Ming Dynasty retreated into itself and fell into a 200-year crisis.