Final answer:
Asian merchants continued to thrive in trade despite Portuguese and European control in Asia due to their monopolies and support from kingdoms and states. They controlled the trade in exotic luxury goods and raw materials, which made it challenging for European states to gain control.
Step-by-step explanation:
Despite Portuguese and European control in Asia, Asian merchants such as Chinese, Arabs, and Japanese, continued to thrive in trade. This was because these merchants acted as intermediaries who controlled the trade in exotic luxury goods and vital raw materials, such as Chinese silk, Indonesian spices, and African gold. Their monopolies were often supported by kingdoms and states that benefited from it, making it difficult for European states, like Portugal, to gain control.