http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._bombing_of_the_Chinese_embassy_in_BelgradeIn 1999 the United States (Under NATO) bombed Belgrade to stop Slobodan Milosevic from carrying out Genocide.
NATO bombed bridges, roads, power grids, and trains. All infrastructure was destroyed forcing hardship on the Serbian people and pressure on Milosevic to go. Eventually it worked.
During the bombing the US "accidentally" bombed the Chinese Embassy (Oops). At the time the US insisted it was an accident. The US said the CIA was using "old maps". That was the equivalent of says the dog ate my homework.
China was furious. President Clinton apologized over and over but the Chinese would never accept. China staged demonstrations outside the US embassies creating damage and fear.
http://future.state.gov/where/stories/events/44252.htmEventually everyone moved on.
At the time It made no sense how the US could accidentally bomb anything. This bombing was carried out by the B2 Stealth Bomber. The most sophisticated bomber in the US inventory. It used the most sophisticated JDAM bombs which are satellite guided and use GPS technology.
While NATO oversaw all other bombing runs this particular run was carried out by the CIA. The only bombing run in the campaign carried out by the CIA. The bomber even left directly out of
Whiteman AFB in
Missouri. All the other bombers flew out of Europe. Supposedly it was going to blow up a warehouse full of weapons but it used 5 bombs. (kinda excessive)
At the time none of it made sense. Today it makes perfect sense.
Two months before the bombing of the Chinese embassy the first US F117 stealth fighter was shot down.
It was a big deal.
The US was using the same flying lanes in and out of Serbia. That predictability made it an easier target for the Serbs. Because the Stealth fighter is black it could be seen flying against clouds at night. With some luck the Serbs managed to knock it down.
Normally the US would go in and bomb the wreckage to ensure secret technology didn't fall into the wrong hands. Knocking down the F117 was such a big deal all the local towns people came out to dance on it. It was broadcast on TV around the world making it impossible for the US to drop bombs. Killing innocent villagers would have been a PR nightmare.
What wasn't clear at the time was Chinese agents ran in to collect all the parts. They paid villagers to hand over what they collected. Those parts most likely ended up at the Chinese embassy. That is why the Chinese Embassy was bombed two months later in the middle of the night.
They were probably trying to destroy the F117 parts. They failed.
12 years later that technology has found it's way into the new Chinese Stealth Fighter.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/25/world/asia/25briefs-China.html?_r=1&scp=6&sq=china%20stealth&st=csehttp://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/26/world/asia/26stealth.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
