1999 anti-US protests in China
| 1999 anti-US protests in China | |
|---|---|
| Part of protest and dissent in China, anti-American sentiment in China | |
Anti-American protests in Nanjing following the US bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade, 1999. | |
| Date | 8 May 1999 – 11 May 1999; smaller protests continued after |
| Location | China, Portuguese Macau, smaller protests across Asia and worldwide |
| Caused by | United States bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade |
| Methods | peaceful protest, attacks on diplomatic missions, boycott |
| Resulted in | China compensates the US with US$2,870,000 for consular damages, while the US compensates China US$28,000,000 for the bombing, in addition to US$4,500,000 for the victims. |
| Concessions | US President Bill Clinton apologizes on 10 May |
| Casualties | |
| Death | 0 |
| Damage | 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. 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." In December, China agreed to compensate the US with US$2,870,000 for the demonstrations' damage to consular property, while the US compensated China with US$28,000,000 for the bombing.