Answer: China
Step-by-step explanation:
As the world became more connected in the 16th and 17th centuries, global trade increased rapidly. China benefitted from this by selling its very valuable silk, porcelain and other popular goods to the rest of the world whilst requiring that they are paid in silver.
Chinese demand for silver was born out of the need for a stable currency after their paper money failed and with their goods in high demand abroad, they were able to absorb a large amount of the world's silver.