A precision strike that missed its target by 440 meters
In short: On May 7, 1999, a US B-2 Spirit dropped five GPS-guided bombs on the Chinese embassy in Belgrade. The intended target was a Yugoslav weapons importer located 440 meters south. The error killed three journalists and sparked massive anti-US protests across China, leaving a legacy of deep-seated suspicion.
The incident, known in China as the May 8 incident, occurred during a NATO bombing campaign in Yugoslavia. A US Air Force B-2 Spirit, flying from Whiteman AFB in Missouri, dropped five 2,000-pound Mark 84 bombs equipped with JDAM precision kits. While these weapons were accurate to within 13 meters, the coordinates provided by the CIA were for the embassy, which sat 440 meters north of the intended target, the Yugoimport weapons importer.
The cause of the error remains a point of intense debate. The US government maintained it was an accident caused by an outdated address in a 'no-strike' database and a CIA miscalculation of coordinates. However, a joint investigation by The Observer and Politiken in October 1999 alleged the strike was deliberate, suggesting NATO had moved the embassy from a prohibited to a designated target list because it was allegedly collecting intelligence on NATO aircraft.
The geopolitical fallout was immediate. Tens of thousands of protesters swept through Chinese cities, including Beijing and Chengdu, targeting US and NATO missions. In the aftermath, the US agreed to pay $4.5 million to victims and $28 million to China for embassy damages, while China paid $2.87 million for damages to US facilities. Despite diplomatic efforts to improve relations by 2000, many in China continue to believe the attack was intentional. This event prompted the People's Liberation Army to accelerate developments in cyberwarfare, anti-satellite capabilities, and domestic air defense.
The strike also highlighted tensions within the NATO alliance. While the mission was part of the NATO campaign, all B-2 strikes were conducted under US European Command alone, a dual-track command structure that caused contention with members like France.
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