Was Christopher Columbus simply the second foreigner to bump into the New World?

There has been the Viking theory, but now there is another fiercely debated theory that says the fleet of Zheng He, a Chinese admiral, also beat Columbus to the New World.

For those familiar with the theory, do you feel it's credible?

I think it's now widely recognised that the idea that Columbus "discovered" America is wrong. Among Europeans, both the Vikings and the Basques are believed to have been familiar with the "New World", they just didn't bother telling anyone. There's then of course the matter of the "Native" Americans, who presumably had some idea where the place was.

There's also the story of Prince Madoc of Wales, who sailed on the Gwennan Gorn in 1170. He supposedly discovered America, returned to Wales, gathered a fleet of ten small ships and some volunteers, and sailed to America again.

In the seventeenth or eighteenth century a tribe of Native Americans was discovered- The Mandans- who had white skins and spoke a language similar to Welsh. Some people believe that Madoc landed in Alabama and that the Mandans are the descendants of him and his volunteers.

In 1953 a tablet was erected on the shore of Mobile Bay, Alabama, which reads:

Quote:

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In memory of Prince Madoc, a Welsh explorer, who landed on the shores of Mobile Bay in 1170 and left behind, with the Indians, the Welsh language.

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Near Penrhyn Bay, North Wales, there is a tablet inscribed:

Quote:

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Prince Madoc sailed from here
Aber-Kerrik-Gwynan, 1170 A.D.
And landed at Mobile Bay, Alabama
With his ships
Gorn Gwynant and Pedr Sant.

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I have no idea whether or not any of this is true.

I would like to hear Jazz's views on this. Is there any reason to believe that Queng Ho's treasure fleet could have crossed the Pacific travelling East and arrived in North America

Here's an older thread on the issue.

Jazz's view is in it.