The voyages of Zheng He were discontinued because Chinese officials thought they
led to harmful foreign influence
encouraged immigration
made merchants too powerful.
wasted valuable resources.

Option: wasted valuable resources.

Explanation:

Zheng He is known to be one of the great explorers who gave China the control over the Indian Ocean in the 15th century. The Ming fleets in the Indian Ocean was removed because the voyages were expensive for the Ming Dynasty. The treasure fleet voyages cost Ming China tremendous money as they did not earn much from the trade trips. The government gained little of the cost from the voyages as a profit or enough to send for another voyage.