Prior to the discovery of the New World, and the expansion of the Columbian Exchange, what kingdoms and parts of the world dominated the trade routes?

china unilaterally claims the entire south china sea as sovereign territory, then builds artificial islands to bolster its claim. it suddenly activates an air defense identification zone over the east china sea, and threatens to down any aircraft that does not report its position. it builds roads into indian territory, then redraws the maps to show that it is actually chinese territory. the people's republic under president xi jinping is quickly becoming the bully of asia.

your answer is

to dominate europe

and i know for a fact it can't be the others