China News Service, May 8th (Liu Cong, Meng Xiangjun) "I would like to thank the People's Republic of China for its support and friendship at the most difficult time of the people of the Republic of Serbia, and I would like to cherish the memory of the martyrs who died.
This is a golden, special epitaph.
It was engraved on the black marble monument in front of the former site of the Chinese Embassy in Yugoslavia.
On May 7, local time, the Chinese Embassy in Serbia held an event to commemorate the 22nd anniversary of the bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Yugoslavia.
Source: Website of the Chinese Embassy in Serbia
May 7, 2021, is the 22-year anniversary of the bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Yugoslavia.
In front of the monument, there are still flowers of mourning.
It is like a new era, a tribute and memorial to another era.
Serbian Minister of Labor, Employment, Veterans and Social Security Tpavčević, Belgrade Mayor Vesic, Chinese Ambassador to Serbia Chen Bo, some librarians and friendly people from all walks of life in Serbia all came to pay homage.
That dark day
Twenty-two years have passed, saying that time will dilute everything, but the Chinese have never forgotten the three Chinese journalists who died under the missile; they will always remember what the United States and NATO did back then.
At 23:45 on the evening of May 7, 1999, local time, near midnight on the streets of Belgrade, the capital of the Yugoslavia, a bomb suddenly fell from the sky, the power grid was paralyzed and it was completely dark.
The B-2 bomber that took off from the United States suddenly dropped five bombs on the Chinese Embassy in Yugoslavia with precision.
There was a loud noise, dozens of people were wounded, and three Chinese reporters in the embassy-Shao Yunhuan, Xu Xinghu, and Zhu Ying, were unfortunately killed.
After hearing the news that the embassy was bombed, Chinese businessman Shen Hong rushed to the scene.
What caught his eyes was chaos.
The embassy building was still burning, and the staff covered in blood and dust crawled out of the windows.
"We can't go in, there is a lot of smoke, there is no electricity, we can't see anything, it's horrible!" Shen Hong recalled.
He saw the cultural counselor of the embassy he knew. The counselor tied the curtains on his body and escaped from the second floor window.
"We didn't see that he was injured, nor did he notice it himself. When I shook hands with him, I realized that my hands were full of blood. I told him:'You are injured, you are injured!' He fainted when he saw the blood. Passed."
On May 7, local time, the Chinese Embassy in Serbia held an event to commemorate the 22nd anniversary of the bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Yugoslavia.
Source: Website of the Chinese Embassy in Serbia
This is an act of war!
Everything happened too suddenly.
It is unbelievable that the embassy, which was regarded as a "security guarantee" by the locals, would become ruined overnight in this air strike that was not authorized by the United Nations.
On March 24, 1999, NATO headed by the United States bypassed the United Nations and brazenly launched the Kosovo War.
This hegemonic war attempting to impose one's will on other countries by force was opposed from the beginning by many peace-loving countries, including China.
At that time, the United States and NATO had already triggered condemnation due to the increasing civilian casualties. Unexpectedly, they bombed the Chinese Embassy, a symbol of Chinese sovereignty.
Shen Hong said that in his opinion, bombing the embassy is an act of war.
Such criminal acts are not only a serious violation of China's sovereignty, but also a flagrant violation of the diplomatic relations convention and the basic norms of international relations.
In the first few hours after the bombing, the United States and NATO quickly announced publicly that this was "an accident."
More than a month later, the United States gave a so-called explanation that the bombing of the Chinese embassy was caused by "a series of fundamental errors."
China cannot accept such unconvincing rhetoric.
On May 7, local time, the Chinese Embassy in Serbia held an event to commemorate the 22nd anniversary of the bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Yugoslavia.
Source: Website of the Chinese Embassy in Serbia
The Chinese people must not be deceived!
In June 1999, when the US sent a special envoy to China to explain the bombing of the embassy, then Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan directly said to him: "The conclusion of the'incorrect bombing' is unacceptable to the Chinese government and people."
Since July 15th of the same year, representatives of China and the United States have been in Beijing to negotiate on the bombing of the embassy.
This is the first case of compensation directly against a foreign government in the 50 years since the founding of New China.
It not only involves complicated legal issues, but also concerns major national interests and national sentiments, which is of great significance.
There were five rounds of negotiations between China and the United States, and each round of negotiations was very difficult.
The Chinese delegation has always firmly grasped the initiative, forcing the US to adopt a low profile in the negotiations.
Tang Jiaxuan recalled: Through negotiations, China’s biggest gain was to let the United States know that "China today and the Chinese people today cannot be bullied." In order to defend national sovereignty and national dignity, the Chinese people did not hesitate to sacrifice everything.
China firmly opposes acts of hegemonism.
Following the solemn representations of the Chinese government and the strong protests of the Chinese people, the U.S. government finally made a public and formal apology and compensated, but still insisted on the argument of "incorrect bombing."
In addition, no more convincing explanation can be provided.
22 years later, the Chinese have not forgotten
22 years ago, what kind of attitude we were, 22 years later, we are still, and stronger than then.
On March 26, 2021, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying said when referring to this matter: “The Chinese side would like to remind NATO that NATO still owes blood debts to the Chinese people. Don’t forget NATO, which was led by the United States in 1999. In serious violation of relevant international law and basic norms of international relations, the flagrant bombing of Yugoslavia resulted in the death of a large number of innocent civilians, including three Chinese journalists. The dead are already gone, but the living need more vigilance and reflection."
On the same day, Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister Wei Fenghe, who was visiting Serbia, made a special trip to the former site of the Chinese Embassy in Yugoslavia to pay tribute to the three Chinese compatriots who were killed in the bombing.
Wei Fenghe said with emotion: "Today, we made a special trip to pay tribute to the martyrs at the former site of the bombed Chinese Embassy in Yugoslavia. The Chinese people will never forget this period of history. The Chinese army will never allow this kind of history to repeat itself. We are fully capable and determined to defend the country. Sovereignty, security, and development interests."
On May 7, 1999, the Chinese will never forget this dark day.
Every day after that, with pain and grief, the Chinese have honed and improved themselves in various fields such as economy, military, and diplomacy, overcoming obstacles, and moving forward with determination.
As the Chinese Ambassador to Serbia Chen Bo said, we will never forget the crimes committed by the aggressors.
At the same time, over the past 22 years, the blood of the three martyrs has inspired every Chinese to unite and strive to build a stronger country.
No matter how many years have passed, China will never forget the grievances and humiliations it has suffered.
And these will only inspire us to forge ahead.
Whether it is a time of war or a peaceful and prosperous age, China will never forget the names of martyrs!
(Finish)