The Maritime Defence of China by Y.H. Teddy Sim

Author:Y.H. Teddy Sim
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Springer Singapore, Singapore

8.4 Analysis of Skirmishes and Clashes

From the presentation of the fighting prowess of the contenders, it appears that both sides’ capabilities were ‘evenly matched’—although, generally speaking, the Portuguese did not come in a grand expedition of conquest on this occasion. It might be of interest to note that during the 16th and early 17th centuries, occasional proposals were put forth to recommend the conquest of China—although these were not implemented to any great extent.19 Despite the apparent decay that had occurred in the Ming military, some scholars have pointed out that the Portuguese were ‘impressed by China’s military power’.20

Luso-Chinese interactions in the early years of 1500 led to two clashes of arms between the two powers. The nephew of Afonso Albuquerque sent what was described by some scholars as the “first European maritime expedition to the Middle Kingdom” in 1514.21 All that is known (and described by Barros) of the mission is that “Jorge Alvares, the ambassador, left a padrão [on an] island in the Pearl River estuary”, although Chang Tien Tse quotes from the more optimistic Italian accounts that Alvares succeeded in exchanging goods at a great profit.22 A retinue of Lopo Soares de Albergaria with three captains was appointed in 1515 by King Manuel to ‘proceed to China to negotiate trading arrangements’.23 When Simão Pires de Andrade (the younger brother of Fernão Pires de Andrade) arrived in 1519 at Tunmen, at the estuary, he committed a number of acts—on top of his brother’s offensive cannon-firing salute at Canton and the Portuguese conquest of Melaka—that further infuriated the Chinese and negatively impacted Sino-Portuguese relations. Among the deeply offending gestures was Simão Andrade’s attempt to build a fort at Tunmen (with ‘impressed Chinese labour gangs’),24 obstructing merchants from other states such as Siam and Cambodia from carrying out their trade (until the Portuguese had done so) and buying Chinese children as slaves.

As a result of the deteriorating relations between the Portuguese and Chinese, Tomé Pires’ trip to Peking in 1521 was futile.25 The Europeans in Canton and Tunmen were ordered to leave China, and the Portuguese vessels had to ‘fight their way out of [Pearl River]’.26 According to Fernão Lopes de Castanheda’s História do descobrimento (e conquista da India pelos Portugueses), the Portuguese representation to the Ming Chinese continued to be plagued by petitions from the Melaka court in exile (succeeding the court in Johor) to punish the Portuguese. Pires’ mission also encountered a series of communication issues that contributed to its failure. It appears that despite Simão Andrade’s transgression in 1519, the Portuguese remained at Tunmen and continued their activities there for another 2 or 3 years.27

Castanheda’s História provides further details of the first and second battles of Tunmen. The Chinese squadron pursuing the Portuguese in the first skirmish at Tunmen was pegged at 50. This corresponds to the naval strength stipulated for the weisuo unit supposedly stationed in the area. Many Portuguese, and presumably quite a few vessels, must have been captured by the Chinese. The Chinese stripped the captured vessels of anything of use.

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