US and China resume bilateral WTO negotiations. Nato warplanes taking part in Yugoslavia air raids, accidentally bomb the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade, sparking outrage from China. It suspends WTO talks. Bill Clinton is the first US president to visit China since Tiananmen Square. He criticises the violent crushing of the 1989 demonstrations and urges China to respect and preserve the basic human rights of its people.
China denies allegations.
Clinton and Jiang meet in Vancouver, Canada before the start of APEC forum. China holds missile tests off Taiwan to intimidate voters against Lee Teng-hui, running in the island's first direct presidential elections. China fears he is pro-independence. The US sends two aircraft-carrier battle groups to the area in a show of support for Taiwan. Lee wins election by a landslide.