Volume of silver imports into China by country of origin 1550-1700
China's presence at sea decreased significantly, and whatever naval resources it had were spent on defense, not trade. Following the Portuguese arrival in India at the turn of the 16th century, European merchants requested trade with China in the 1510s and 1520s, but were denied both times. This changed however in 1557, as the Portuguese took control of Macau, and the arrival of silver from the Americas opened entry into Chinese markets.
From the 11th to the 15th century, China was the most powerful trading and military power in the Indian Ocean. However, in the 1400s, resources were diverted away from international trade in order to improve internal infrastructure and northern defenses, and domestic trade was prioritized. From this time,