Chinese records by the 1600s note that European ships were more maneuverable especially sailing against the wind and had longer range cannons. The advantages ha

Chinese records by the 1600s note that European ships were more maneuverable especially sailing against the wind and had longer range cannons. The advantages hadn't grown large enough so the Ming were still able to beat the few limited European incursions that made it all the way to China, but the differences grew larger over time that the Qing fleets were too slow and their gun ranges were much much worse.