Did the Ming Dynasty ever consider incorporating the Philippines into its territory?

The expansion after the founding of the Ming Dynasty was a limited expansion. Outside the traditional Chinese territory, surrounding areas mostly adopted an autonomous region system similar to the current one. There was no intention to expand overseas far away from the mainland. Only a unique tribute system existed. .

1. The Philippines during the Ming Dynasty

The Philippines is an archipelago country in Southeast Asia. Before the 14th century, indigenous tribes still existed on the Philippine Islands. In 1390, the Sulu Sultanate was established. It became a Spanish colony in 1417 and was named after the Spanish King in 1565. It gained independence from the United States in 1946.

The Ming Dynasty was founded in 1368. At the same time, the Philippine Islands was not a country.

During the reign of Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty, he sent Zheng He to lead a fleet on an overseas patrol, passing through the Philippine Islands and reaching as far as the African coast. This was also a large-scale direct contact with the Philippines.

2. The Ming Dynasty’s maritime ban policy

Since the founding of the country by Zhu Yuanzhang, the Ming Dynasty has promulgated a maritime ban policy, prohibited overseas trade, and even promulgated fifteen countries without conquest, warning future generations not to engage in war. .

After Zhu Di's Jingnan battle, Emperor Jianwen was not found. He heard that Emperor Jianwen had already fled overseas and broke the rules, so Zheng He went to the West.

With the influence of Zheng He's fleet, overseas countries sent envoys to visit the Ming Dynasty one after another. The three kings of Sulu went to Beijing in person to meet Zhu Di. Among them, King Batu of the Middle East unfortunately died of illness and did not return home for burial.

After that, the area accepted the management of the Ming Dynasty’s Old Port Xuanwei Division and became a nominal overseas territory of the Ming Dynasty.

3. Jiugang Xuanwei Division

The Jiugang Xuanwei Division is located on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Before the sea ban policy, there were immigrants from the Central Plains in Southeast Asia, mostly Cantonese.

When Zheng He's fleet returned, it was attacked by the pirate Chen Zuyi. Chen Zuyi's pirate group was wiped out. After agreeing to establish the Old Port Xuanwei Department, it was managed by the local Chinese leader Shi Jinqing. It lasted until 1440, when it was taken over by the local indigenous people. Kingdom annexed.

The Ming Dynasty believed that all regions only needed to recognize the Ming Dynasty's suzerainty and pay tribute on time, and would not interfere with regions even if they annexed each other.

The jurisdiction of the Old Port Xuanwei Division is vast, including the Philippines, but it is only the nominal territory of the Ming Dynasty. It is managed by the locals themselves and only accepts appointments from the Ming Dynasty, so the Old Port Xuanwei Division was annexed. He was not attacked by the Ming army.

4. The Philippines proactively requested to be annexed to China

In 1753, the Sulu Sultanate of the Philippines was unable to resist the Spanish invasion. It hoped to receive support from the Manchu and Qing court, and took the initiative to write a request to the Qianlong Emperor of the Qing Dynasty. Incorporated into China.

Of course Qianlong refused without thinking, and the territory that was offered to him was lost in vain.

We can’t blame the Ming Dynasty for being short-sighted. The feudal era was completely self-sufficient. On the other hand, the economy and culture far exceeded other regions. The mentality of the Celestial Empire was that it had no interest or much demand for overseas. Naturally, the Philippines will not consider incorporating it into the actual territory.