Can I use "competing" in place of "competition" in this sentence?

Question

I would like to ask a question about a gerund and a noun.

Here is the phrase in a passage about history: (1)Always in danger of competition from neighbouring Spain, the Portuguese began subcontracting their spice distribution to Dutch traders.

I am wondering if it is correct to use Ving (competing) instead a noun (competition). (2)Always in danger of competing from neighbouring Spain, the Portuguese began subcontracting their spice distribution to Dutch traders.

I think that 1st sentence emphasizes on a whole completed action in the past. 2nd sentence emphasizes on the action which was in process in the past. Is this correct?

Answer 1

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, competition describes "a situation in which someone is trying to win something or be more successful than someone else".

The keyword there is situation: by contrast, gerunds describe an activity, for example:

I like swimming

In your sentence, you are talking about a situation, not an activity, so competition is the only word that works.