1999: The Bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade

Abstract

In late March 1999 NATO forces, led by the US, began Operation Allied Force, an air campaign against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia geared towards putting a halt to the atrocities being committed against the ethnic Albanian population at the hands of the Serbian government. Two weeks later, on the night of 7 May 1999, a US Air Force B-2 bomber dropped five bombs which hit the Chinese embassy in Belgrade killing three journalists and injuring over 20 personnel. News of the bombing led to waves of protests across China and the suspension of official visits and military contact between the US and China. Over the next five days, tensions mounted and the situation intensified as the number of protesters on the streets grew, official Chinese condemnation continued, and officials from the US were seen to struggle over the apparent need to express an apology sufficient to meet Chinese demands. Eventually, such an apology came and was soon followed by the cessation of public protesting in China and the resumption of official dialogue between the two powers.