[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 66 (Monday, May 10, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4942-S4943]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         ACCIDENTAL BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE

  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. President, as chairman of the Subcommittee on the 
East Asia and Pacific Affairs, I have been very much interested in the 
unfortunate bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade over the 
weekend.
  Clearly, in my opinion, this was a tragic mistake. It has been 
suggested by some that it was done on purpose. I don't believe that. I 
think it was a mistake--one for which there is no excuse.

[[Page S4943]]

 It boggles the mind to think that someone could make such a mistake. 
It is my hope that the matter will be thoroughly investigated and that 
a proper explanation will be made.
  It was a mistake for which both the President and the Secretary of 
State have apologized to People's Republic of China. I add my apology 
to theirs. There is no minimizing this unfortunate accident. But I also 
must say to the Chinese that it would be a mistake to inflame the 
situation, and to fail to adequately protect our embassies and our 
consulates in China.
  The Government there has apparently organized busloads of students to 
travel to the Embassy in Beijing. By the way, I was there not long ago. 
This is one of the least protected embassies in our system. It is very 
old, and it is not satisfactory from a safety standpoint.
  While public security officials in Beijing apparently prevent their 
citizens from storming the Embassy, they do nothing to prevent the 
throwing of stones and Molotov cocktails, and people have damaged the 
Embassy.
  Our consulate in Chungdu was partially destroyed by fire. The 
Government has allowed citizens to effectively hold the Ambassador 
hostage in our Embassy for the past 3 days. The Chinese press has 
failed to mention, purposefully I suspect, that we and NATO have 
apologized for the bombing, nor has the media noted that the bombing 
was accidental rather than premeditated.
  We have had and continue to have a strategic relationship with the 
People's Republic of China. Certainly we have not agreed on many 
things. Certainly we have been critical of many things. On the other 
hand, that relationship has grown over the last several years. China 
has changed substantially. We have a great number of things going on 
between our countries. Almost everyone would agree that, assuming we 
could get over the main obstacles, a relationship between that large 
country with 1.2 billion people and our country is something that is 
jointly advantageous. We have an economic relationship. We are working 
on and I think have been coming rather close to, an agreement on the 
World Trade Organization, which I favor. I think we would be much 
better off dealing with China within the WTO rather than having to do 
it unilaterally. If we are going to be in the world community, then 
these are things which I think are particularly important.
  I suspect that some Chinese are using this incident as a way of 
responding to some of the criticisms of them and their practices that 
we have had over time. We have had it on espionage; we have had it on 
human rights, and properly so, I suspect. But they are using this, in 
my view, as a means of responding to some of the criticisms we have 
had.
  I think it would be a mistake if we let this unfortunate incident 
interfere with the opportunity to have a stronger relationship. I think 
it would be a mistake if we let this be an opportunity for Milosevic to 
begin to do something with his image and come out with a better deal 
than he deserves. I hope that doesn't happen. We both have--a great 
deal at risk.
  Mr. President, I hope, despite all the problems, that we can solve 
this. I think it would be wrong for either side to use this bombing and 
subsequent reaction of Chinese citizens to poison the bilateral 
relationship which we have an opportunity to develop in the future. As 
we know, there is a great deal at stake in all of our relationships 
throughout the world.
  Mr. President, I thank you for the time.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the order for the 
quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Kyl). Without objection, it is so ordered.

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