From Hu Jintao's speech to the Australian legislature. "Back in the 1420s, the expeditionary fleets of China's Ming dynasty reached Australian shores. For centuries, the Chinese sailed across vast seas and settled down in what was called `the southern land,' or today's Australia. They brought Chinese culture here and lived harmoniously with the local people, contributing their proud share to Australia's economy, society and thriving pluralistic culture." http://australianpolitics.com.au/news/2003/10/03-10-24b.shtml WHAT?!?!?! There is NO evidence for any of this crap. What, is this the first step for an eventual Chinese claim to Australia? After all, they use similiar claims to believe that the entire South China Sea belongs to them.
Well, it makes sense. Australia has a lot of land and resources. China has a lot of people. A marriage made in heaven. How to speak Australian: Ni hao ma. Pijiou: Australian for beer, mait.
I think they were the first to discover Australia, other than the Aboriginal people of course. The first Europeans were a Dutch ship in the 16th or 17th Century.
The aussies didn't even dispute the point but you had to because you now had proof that the commies want to take over the world.
I think I recall reading somewhere that a good portion of Oceanic people are ethnically similar to south-eastern Chinese people. Additionally, I understand that there is some rather interesting evidence that points to the fact that the Chinese may have visited North America's west coast well before Spain landed in the West Indies. I don't think it unreasonable - should there be supporting evidence - that the Chinese hit Australia at some point. What would be unreasonable is saying the Romans found Australia.
But it's kind of funny, makes me think of Chekov in Star Trek going "you know, the Russians invented..." "You know, the Chinese discovered Australia"
By the 15th or 16th century, the Chinese had made huge Junks that could have their own fish farms in them, whilst European boats were smaller, slower, and couldn't go as far. It does sound a bit odd when they are actually sea-faring vessels, but it guaruntees an adequate supply of food. If any non-native population was to stumble upon Australia, it would probably be the Chnese, as they were far more advanced than anyone else at that time.
Were the Chinese that discovered Australia celibate? This whole dispute could be easily resolved with some mDNA testing.
I have no doubt the Chinese made it there. They were traveling extensively and there are some archaeological remains on the coastal regions of Australia, IIRC, including some with pot fragments made in Indonesia from about the same time period. But as far as anybody making extensive contact with Aborigines and affecting their culture to this extent: ...That's a load of steaming crap.
At the time the indians came over though there was no North America. It was still connected to Asia, which is how they got here. The Vikings discovered NA for Europe.
The Chinese were sailing the region for a VERY SHORT period of time, during the era of Zheng He from the first decade of the 1400s to the early 1430s. The idea that they were sailing to Australia for centuries is perposterous. The Europeans sailed MUCH further with their smaller vessels just a few decades later. I have never seen evidence that the Chinese have landed in Australia. Where are the Chinese records of such a landing? Where are the maps?
I wouldn't be so sure. There is definite evidence of Chinese influence in Australia. Sociologists have discovered in the most remote corners of the Island some male Aborigines who have been observed to spend their evenings getting drunk while toasting to each other, then continue their drinking at a karaokee bar until they can barely walk and finally having a young prostitute take them to a hotel room and help put them in bed while overcharging them for doing nothing since they are too drunk to do anything.