US Explanation on Bomgbing of Chinese Embassy not Holds WaterOn 8 April 2000, the US Government informed the Chinese Government of the results of the accountability review concerning the US bombing of the Chinese Embassy in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on 8 May last year.The US only admitted that the US side used an inappropriate methodology to locate the target and that the review process at every level failed to find the mistake. The US side informed the Chinese side that it had sanctioned eight CIA officers involved, with one of them fired. It must be pointed out that the Chinese Embassy in Yugoslavia has unmistakable symbols and it is also clearly marked on the US maps. The US claimed that it did not know its exact location is not justified. The Federal Directory of Supply and Procurement is not a secret agency and its building is half a kilometer away from the Chinese Embassy. The two buildings look totally different. So it was impossible for the US side to mix up these two buildings. According to the US explanation, several individuals all neglected their duties and its review process failed to detect the mistake at every level. This is hard for people to believe. The Chinese side once again stresses that the US bombing of the Chinese Embassy in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia caused a heavy casualty and severe damages to the Embassy premises. In committing this act, the US side seriously violated the relevant international conventions and basic norms governing international relations, infringed gravely on China's sovereignty, greatly hurt the dignity of the Chinese people and severely damaged Sino-US relations. This was an extremely serious international unlawful act. The Chinese Government strongly demands that the US Government conduct a comprehensive and thorough investigation into its bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Yugoslavia, bring the perpetrators to justice and give the Chinese Government and people a satisfactory explanation. |
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