[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

I read years ago that, in that time period, the Chinese had explored as far west as East Africa and possibly the West coast of the Americas.

Then their exploration ceased.

[Cronos]

In the Tang period???

I know that during the Ming period they sent sea ships to East Africa.

But not earlier — as far as I know, they preferred merchants to come to THEM - so the Malay traders to India and Indian merchants onwards.