You pic a time frame, were China was indeed ahead. But I mentioned this time frame myself and it was the only time.
>> The reason why Europe explored more during that time says more about China than Europe. > No. It says more about Europe than China.
Yes. It basically tells us, that while China was ahead, the culture had big weaknesses. So big, that they left the world for Europe. What happened to Zheng He?
"Yes. China has superior products that europe desired and ran a deficit..."
You are right with the deficit. They did not have superior products, they had unique products (silk, tea, porcelain) and only wanted to export but never buy anything. Not so different from today. They always said, in the arrogance "we don't need anything!". After the military trouble with the west, they realized there was something they should have bought. Technology.