https://t.me/geopolitics_live/23287Why did CIA aim ‘smart bombs’ at China’s embassy in Belgrade in 1999?
The visit of China’s President Xi Jinping to Serbia coincided with the 25th anniversary of the infamous destruction of China’s embassy in Belgrade by US “smart bombs” on May 7, 1999.
By mentioning this tragedy in his article for daily newspaper Politika on the day of his arrival, Xi made the date of his visit a snub to the US.
“25 years ago, on May 7, 1999, NATO flagrantly bombed the Chinese embassy in Yugoslavia, killing three Chinese journalists – Ms. Shao Yunhuan, Mr. Xu Xinghu and his wife Zhu Ying.”
“This we should never forget,” Xi wrote in his article. The Chinese foreign ministry called the bombing “a barbaric crime” which China will never allow to be repeated.
Two bombs hit the embassy, killing 20 people — three of whom were Chinese nationals. The bombs were dropped by a US Air Force bomber on a mission from its base in Missouri.
They were GPS-guided precision bombs, the “margin of error” of which was limited to 13 meters. The US called the destructive hit “an accident,” insisting its aircraft was actually targeting Yugoimport, an office of Yugoslav government located 440 meters away. Later, in July 1999, then CIA Director George Tenet acknowledged that the bombing was the only one of the war organized by his agency. He claimed that the crew was given the wrong coordinates for some reason.
China did not accept that version of events, saying the bombing could only be deliberate. Russia shared that view, also doubting the US explanation.
On October 17, 1999, British newspaper The Observer published an article stating that the bombing was deliberate. Two subsequent stories in The Observer and Danish newspaper Politiken cited evidence that the US and NATO had deliberately “punished” China for its “help” for Yugoslav leaders. The real reason, Beijing continues to asset, was China’s opposition to NATO’s war against Yugoslavia.
