NATO Bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade
NATO aircraft struck the Chinese embassy in Belgrade during the Kosovo War, killing three journalists and injuring dozens; NATO called it a targeting error, but the incident unleashed nationalist protests across China and severely damaged Sino-American relations.
The Bombing
On the night of May 7–8, 1999, US B-2 stealth bombers struck the Chinese embassy in Belgrade with five JDAM precision-guided bombs during NATO's air campaign against Yugoslavia over Kosovo. Three Chinese journalists — Shao Yunhuan, Xu Xinghu, and Zhu Ying — were killed and more than 20 people were injured. The embassy building was seriously damaged. The attack occurred as Chinese media had been reporting extensively on the NATO bombing campaign and civilian casualties.
Reactions in China
The response in China was immediate and furious. Protests erupted spontaneously at US and British diplomatic missions across China: the US embassy in Beijing was pelted with rocks and eggs, its windows smashed. The protests were unusual in post-1989 China for being largely organised by students rather than the state. State media amplified nationalist outrage. The Chinese government demanded a formal apology, punishment of those responsible, and full compensation.
US Explanation and Aftermath
The CIA provided the stated explanation: outdated maps had placed a Yugoslav military supply agency at the embassy's coordinates. The US and NATO offered formal apologies and eventually paid $4.5 million to the families of those killed and $28 million to China for embassy damage. China paid $2.87 million for US diplomatic property damage. The incident severely damaged bilateral relations and became a reference point for Chinese nationalist grievances, repeatedly invoked in subsequent diplomatic disputes.
Narrative Comparison
| Source | Narrative |
|---|---|
| NATO / US Government | The strike was caused by outdated CIA maps that incorrectly identified the location of a Yugoslav federal building. It was an accident with no hostile intent. |
| PRC Official Narrative | The bombing was a deliberate act of aggression against Chinese sovereignty. China demands accountability and reserves the right to respond to this barbaric act. |