Since the 15th century, Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch, and British powers have sought to dominate the straits of Ormuz and Bab el-Mandeb. These narrow maritime passages are crucial for global trade, connecting the Arabian Sea, the Red Sea, and the Indian Ocean. Control over these straits has historically involved naval power, commerce, ports, and local alliances, but history shows that controlling these passages has never been enough to achieve lasting control over the surrounding regions. In recent months, the straits of Ormuz and Bab el-Mandeb have become central to geopolitical rivalries. Control of these passages determines the flow of navigation between major bodies of water—and with it, a significant portion of global trade. Conflicts around these straits are nearly as old as modern maritime trade itself. The current tension between the United States and Iran over these strategic points is just the latest chapter in a history spanning centuries, during which external powers have sought to influence or dominate the Middle East through the sea. One of the earliest examples of an external power projecting influence through the sea was the Ming Dynasty of China. In 1405, Admiral and explorer Zheng He embarked on the first of seven voyages across the Indian Ocean. Leading fleets with more than 300 ships, he reached the city of Ormuz around 1414, then Aden in Yemen, before crossing the Bab el-Mandeb Strait into the Red Sea. This Chinese presence in the Indian Ocean, sometimes called the "Pax Sinica," was not based on controlling the straits. Instead, it allowed for a strong commercial presence through demonstrations of naval power, diplomatic missions, and the exchange of valuable gifts. Unlike later colonial powers, Zheng He did not establish colonies in Ormuz or along the coasts of the Arabian Peninsula. He integrated into the existing commercial system led by Arab, Persian, Indian, and East African merchants. These expeditions also showed the limits of maritime power when ambitions outpace capabilities. After Zheng He's last expedition in the 1430s, the Ming Dynasty shifted its priorities, ending its naval voyages. The state was no longer willing to invest in its navy and its maintenance. Today, China references Zheng He's voyages to legitimize its current relations with the Middle East, framing its investments in infrastructure, energy, and ports—such as Gwadar in Pakistan—as an extension of an ancient and peaceful relationship dating back to the pre-modern Silk Road era.