[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 68 (Wednesday, May 12, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S5151]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       NATO'S MISTAKEN BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE

  Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, all Americans were disturbed and very 
sorry about NATO's mistaken bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade. 
The President has apologized to the Chinese people, and it was, of 
course, appropriate for him to do so. I think it is also right that 
those responsible for this tragic error are held accountable for their 
mistake. I know that neither apologies nor other responses will 
alleviate the suffering of those who lost loved ones in the bombing. 
But America does sincerely regret what happened, and as inadequate as 
that might be to a grieving parent or spouse or friend, it will have to 
be enough for the Government of China.
  It is outrageous that Beijing would claim, suggest or even hint to 
the Chinese people that the bombing was intentional. It was a mistake 
and the leaders of China know that. They do us and themselves a great 
disservice by pretending otherwise. States that aspire to be great 
powers should not indulge paranoid delusions as a means of motivating 
their people. The political consequences are seldom predictable or as 
easy to manage as they might have anticipated.
  America and China have a complex, important, and very consequential 
relationship that will, in large part, shape the history of the next 
century. That relationship should not be jeopardized as cavalierly as 
Beijing has allowed it to be jeopardized over these last few days.
  China must cease immediately fueling anti-Americanism and tolerating 
the attacks it engendered on our embassy and on Americans in China. 
China should cease immediately its calumnies against the United States. 
America is a just power, and the greatest force for good on Earth. A 
very regrettable accident does not change that historical fact, and 
Beijing knows it. Finally, China should cease immediately to threaten 
the other elements of our relationship, be they human rights 
discussions, anti-proliferation cooperation or trade agreements. A 
sound bilateral relationship is a vital interest for both of us, and, 
indeed, for the world. Both countries' leaders must conduct themselves 
with that priority in mind at all times.
  China should accept our apology confident that it is sincere, and 
begin to play a constructive role in helping to persuade Milosevic that 
he must accede to the just demands of humanity, and the, I hope, 
nonnegotiable demands of NATO.
  Terrible things happen in war. People often make bad mistakes in the 
fog of battle. That is why decent people try to avoid resolving their 
differences by force of arms. But that is not always possible. The 
enemy of peace and justice in the Balkans, Milosevic and his regime, 
are not decent people. They are the cause of this war, and, thus, are 
ultimately responsible for the tragedy that occurred last week, and the 
suffering of the people of Serbia. Furthermore, the calamity that 
Serbia is now experiencing, as awful as it is, in no way approximates 
the scale of the horror that has been visited on the Kosovars. Let us 
be clear about that, Mr. President. Should Mr. Milosevic observe the 
most basic standards of human decency no bombs would fall anywhere in 
the Balkans.

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