1999 anti-US protests in China

none 1999 anti-US protests in China protest and dissent in China, anti-American sentiment in China Anti-American Protests in Nanjing, 1999 (flickr 2543499638).jpg Anti-American protests in Nanjing following the US bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade, 1999. 8 May 1999 11 May 1999; smaller protests continued after China, Portuguese Macau, smaller protests across Asia and worldwide US President Bill Clinton apologizes on 10 May United States bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade peaceful protest, attacks on diplomatic missions, boycott China compensates the US with 2,870,000 for consular damages, while the US compensates China 28,000,000 for the bombing, in addition to 4,500,000 for the victims. 0 Consulate General of the United States, Chengdu damaged by fire From 8 May to 10 May 1999, anti-US and anti-NATO protests swept across China and the Chinese diaspora around the world, in response to the United States bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade. Overwhelmingly perceived as a deliberate attack, crowds tens of thousands strong, led by students, demonstrated outside US and NATO embassies and consulates in major cities. Many protesters were violent, attacking consular buildings by throwing rocks, destroying vehicles, and setting fires, although no serious injuries occurred. Large-scale protests forced the temporary closure of every US Embassy and Consulate General in China: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Shenyang. Further protests occurred in Shenzhen, Nanjing, Lanzhou, Hong Kong and the Portuguese territory of Macau. This represented the largest student protests in China since the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre, and remained the largest movement in Beijing until the 2005 anti-Japanese demonstrations.2005-04-09 Protesters attack Japan embassy http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4427379.stm 2025-10-10 BBC News en-GB Globally, Chinese students and diaspora peacefully protested outside US embassies. On 10 May, US President Bill Clinton publicly apologized for the bombing, also stating "I think it is very important to draw a clear distinction between a tragic mistake and a deliberate act of ethnic cleansing."BBC News World Clinton apologises for embassy bombing http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/340280.stm 2025-12-23 news.bbc.co.uk In December, China agreed to compensate the US with 2,870,000 for the demonstrations' damage to consular property, while the US compensated China with 28,000,000 for the bombing.Laris Michael December 16, 1999 U.S., China Reach Deal On Embassy Payments https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1999/12/16/us-china-reach-deal-on-embassy-payments/690c1ec6-b118-487a-a086-fc850ef67a67/ limited 2021-12-21 Washington Post en-US 0190-8286Rosenthal Elisabeth 1999-12-16 U.S. Agrees To Pay China $28 Million For Bombing https://www.nytimes.com/1999/12/16/world/us-agrees-to-pay-china-28-million-for-bombing.html limited 2021-12-21 The New York Times en-US 0362-4331Dumbaugh Kerry April 12, 2000 Chinese Embassy Bombing in Belgrade: Compensation Issues https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/RS20547.html live https://web.archive.org/web/20211028171239/https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/RS20547.html 2021-10-28 2021-12-21 EveryCRSReport.com en Protests in China Large-scale protests forced the temporary closure of every US Embassy and Consulate Generals in China: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Shenyang. Further protests occurred in Shenzhen, Nanjing, Lanzhou, Hong Kong and the Portuguese territory of Macau. This represented the largest student protests in China since the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre, and remained the largest movement in Beijing until the 2005 anti-Japanese demonstrations. Western media accused Chinese media of fuelling the protests, pointing to its initial lack of reporting on the US apologies and claims of unintentionality, and rhetoric such as a People's Daily article saying NATO had intentionally "spilled Chinese blood".May 9, 1999 China gives green light to embassy protests, but warns against violence http://edition.cnn.com/WORLD/asiapcf/9905/09/china.protests.02/ dead https://web.archive.org/web/20210721054500/http://edition.cnn.com/WORLD/asiapcf/9905/09/china.protests.02/ July 21, 2021 October 18, 2021 CNN The protests continued for several days, during which tens of thousands of rock-throwing protesters kept US Ambassador James Sasser and other staff trapped in the Beijing embassy.Ponniah Kevin Marinkovic Lazara 7 May 2019 The night the US bombed a Chinese embassy https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-48134881 12 October 2021 BBC NewsDumbaugh Kerry April 12, 2000 Chinese Embassy Bombing in Belgrade: Compensation Issues https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/RS20547.html live https://web.archive.org/web/20211028171239/https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/RS20547.html 2021-10-28 2021-12-21 EveryCRSReport.com en The residence of the US Consul in Chengdu was damaged by fire and protestors tried to burn the consulate in Guangzhou.Chinese Embassy Bombing in Belgrade: Compensation Issues https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/RS20547.html 2025-12-16 www.everycrsreport.com en There were no reported injuries.May 9, 1999 Chinese in Belgrade, Beijing protest NATO embassy bombing http://articles.cnn.com/1999-05-09/world/9905_09_china.protest.03_1_federal-directorate-nato-bombing-supply-and-procurement?_s=PM:WORLD dead https://web.archive.org/web/20131231042323/http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/asiapcf/9905/09/china.protest.03/index.html?_s=PM:WORLD December 31, 2013 CNN Besides the British and other NATO missions, the embassies of Albania and Ireland were also attacked.1999-05-10 10 May: Nato attacks continue amid Chinese protests https://www.theguardian.com/world/1999/may/10/balkans12 2025-12-23 The Guardian en-GB 0261-3077 On 9 May, then-Vice President Hu Jintao delivered a national televised speech calling the act both "criminal" and "barbaric" and that it "has greatly infuriated the Chinese people."May 9, 1999 Chinese Vice-President Hu: Broadcast to Nation on NATO Strike - Domestic Report. https://www.proquest.com/docview/450115043 subscription BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific - Political 450115043May 10, 1999 China: Vice-President's Televised Speech Widely Supported. https://www.proquest.com/docview/449810360 subscription BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific - Political 449810360(Chinese) People's Daily via Sina.com "资料: 1999年5月9日胡锦涛就我驻南使馆遭袭击发表讲话" Accessed October 18, 2021 He said the unauthorized demonstrations in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Shenyang reflected the anger and patriotism of the Chinese people, and which the Chinese government fully supported, but urged against extreme and illegal conduct. Some protesters were alarmed by the nature of the NATO bombing campaign, in the name of humanitarian intervention, without United Nations Security Council approval, fearing a similar attack against China, potentially over Taiwan or Tibet. One protester told the New York Post "We know what the U.S. intention is ... Today Kosovo, tomorrow Taiwan." Some rhetoric focused on US President Bill Clinton. One sign read "Clinton, we're not Monica",1999-05-09 1999: Chinese anger at embassy bombing http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/may/9/newsid_2519000/2519271.stm 2025-10-09 BBC News en-GB referencing the 1998 Clinton–Lewinsky scandal, while another read "Clinton the second Hitler".Gittings John Gittings John 1999-05-10 Protesters lay siege to embassies https://www.theguardian.com/world/1999/may/10/balkans3 2025-10-09 The Guardian en-GB 0261-3077 Others focused on anti-Americanism more broadly. One student slogan read "don't take TOEFL, don't take GRE, fight wholeheartedly the American Empire".1999：反美游行 民族主义新浪潮_新闻中心_新浪网 https://news.sina.com.cn/c/2008-07-18/175415958373.shtml 2025-10-02 news.sina.com.cn In cities without a US consulate, such as Shenzhen, protests took place outside McDonald's and Wal-Mart locations.Political Violence Against Americans: 1999 https://2009-2017.state.gov/m/ds/rls/rpt/23133.htm 2025-10-10 U.S. Department of State Protests outside China Global protests were typically led by students. Outside of China, significant protests occurred outside the American Institute in Taiwan, including an arson attempt. In Phnom Penh, Cambodia, police fired rounds into the air when hundreds of Chinese Cambodians attempted to overrun a temporary barrier to the US embassy. Peaceful protests occurred outside US missions in Hong Kong, Seoul, Tokyo,1999-05-10 Protesters march on U.S. embassy in Tokyo https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/1999/05/10/national/protesters-march-on-u-s-embassy-in-tokyo/ 2025-10-10 The Japan Times en Vientiane, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, and Manila. Outside of Asia, protests occurred at Chinese embassies in every major European city, as well as Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Cairo, Pretoria, Dar es Salaam, Islamabad, Mumbai, and Kathmandu. Aftermath On 10 May, US President Bill Clinton publicly apologized for the bombing, also stating "I think it is very important to draw a clear distinction between a tragic mistake and a deliberate act of ethnic cleansing." In August, the US agreed to compensate the victims of the bombing and their families.Chu Henry July 31, 1999 U.S. to Pay $4.5 Million for Bombing of Chinese Embassy in Yugoslavia https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-jul-31-mn-61319-story.html limited live https://web.archive.org/web/20211221210416/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-jul-31-mn-61319-story.html 2021-12-21 2021-12-21 Los Angeles Times en-US In December, the US agreed to compensate China for damage to the embassy, and China agreed to compensate the US for damage to consular property in the resulting demonstrations in China. China compensated the United States for 2,870,000 2000, while the US compensated the embassy damage with 28,000,000 2000, as well as a "voluntary humanitarian payment" to the victims' families of 4,500,000 2000. See also United States bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade NATO bombing of Yugoslavia 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre 2005 anti-Japanese demonstrations 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests China–United States relations References Category:1999 in China Category:1999 protests Category:1990s in Beijing Category:1999 conflicts Category:Political controversies in China Category:Student protests in China Category:Hu Jintao Category:Riots and civil disorder in China Category:Anti-American sentiment in China Category:Opposition to NATO