Between 1405 and 1433, Zheng He (郑和, Zhèng Hé, 1371-1433) was placed by the Ming government as the leader of the huge fleet and armed forces. They undertook expeditions designed to establish a Chinese presence, impose imperial control over trade and impress foreign peoples in the Western Ocean (Indian Ocean). Zheng's first voyage consisted of 317 ships holding almost 28,000 armed troops. Many of them were by far the largest marine craft the world had ever seen.

Zheng made seven voyages across Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea and the Red Sea. Throughout his travels, Zheng gave Chinese gifts of silk, porcelain and other goods to the local people. In return, he received rich and unusual presents, including African zebras and giraffes that ended their days in the Ming imperial zoo. Zheng successfully relocated large numbers of Chinese Muslims to Malacca and other places. Malacca became the center of Islamic learning and also a large international Islamic trade center of the southern seas.