When Hillary Clinton first traveled as secretary of state, she stated that the US should not let human rights issues interfere with working with China on global challenges. Now that Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng is reportedly under US protection in Beijing, the US will see if China agrees. Chen's escape and request for US protection come at a complicated time for both countries, with economic and security talks approaching and China dealing with a political scandal. US officials believe it is unlikely that they would hand Chen over to China against his will. China now faces a decision - risk damaging the overall relationship with the US by standing firm, or seek a compromise, a possibility that many analysts and officials believe is likely, but not guaranteed. "I don't think they will completely destroy the relationship," a senior official from the Obama administration said anonymously. "It's not as serious as a spy plane incident or Tiananmen Square. I believe they will attempt to handle the situation." In 2001, relations between Beijing and Washington deteriorated after a Chinese fighter jet collided with a US surveillance plane. The Tiananmen Square incident in 1989, where Chinese troops violently suppressed pro-democracy protesters in the square, worsened relations with Washington even further. The United States has not confirmed reports of Chen's escape from house arrest in China, but China has also not commented directly on the situation. According to Texas-based ChinaAid, Chen is reportedly under US protection and there are ongoing high level talks between US and Chinese officials about his status. The timing of this incident is awkward as it coincides with the visit of US secretaries of state and treasury to Beijing for the Strategic and Economic Dialogue. This situation is reminiscent of when Chinese official Wang Lijun fled to the US consulate in Chengdu, sparking the Bo Xilai scandal. Chris Johnson, who was recently the top China analyst for the CIA, described the current state of Sino-US relations as almost like a perfect storm due to recent events such as the Bo Xilai case, Chen's escape, and the potential sale of new F-16s to Taiwan by the United States. He believes that some in Beijing may view these events as part of a US containment strategy to hinder China's growth. The resolution of these issues will depend on how China's leadership balances nationalist sentiments with a desire to avoid disruptions to the leadership succession in the Chinese communist party this autumn. There is currently a leaning towards a quick and quiet resolution to prevent further negative impact on foreign relations and domestic politics. Professor Shi Yinhong, an expert in US-China relations at Renmin University, believes that China is motivated to resolve these issues promptly as there is too much at stake to cancel upcoming meetings between the two countries. I believe the United States will not use this strategy to humiliate China. They are focused on trying to shape China's stance on North Korea and Syria. They aim to minimize the repercussions of this situation, as they are aware it is already a source of embarrassment for China. The US and China have a history of resolving complex issues, such as the mid-air collision incident on April 1, 2001, where a US Navy EP-3 signals intelligence plane collided with a Chinese fighter near Hainan island, resulting in the death of a Chinese pilot and the emergency landing of the US aircraft on Hainan. The 24 US crew-members were held captive until April 11, when they were released following a letter of apology from the United States for the death of the Chinese pilot and the unauthorized entry of the EP-3 into Chinese airspace. In February 2009, Clinton stated that while the US would continue to address issues with China such as Taiwan, Tibet, and human rights, these concerns would not overshadow global crises such as the economic, climate change, and security crises. Despite the suggestion that human rights might be deprioritized, analysts believed it was unlikely for the US to betray Chen on moral and political grounds. Tom Malinowski, a former member of President Bill Clinton's White House and current Washington director for Human Rights Watch, stated that handing Chen over against his will would be morally unacceptable to most people in the administration. Mitt Romney, a Republican presidential candidate, has criticized Obama for his stance on China, which would worsen if Obama were to abandon Chen. Analysts and rights activists have outlined two potential outcomes for resolving Chen's situation, including his release within China with assurances of safety for himself, his family, and those who aided his escape, or his exile despite his own hesitance to leave China. Kenneth Lieberthal, director of the John L. Thornton China Center at the Brookings Institution in Washington, stated that they would only force the individual out of China if they were very confident that he would not face consequences for his actions. Lieberthal expressed difficulty in being confident about this if the individual remains in China. He mentioned that there is uncertainty about what may happen, but it is likely that the individual will eventually be escorted to the airport with assurances that he can leave on a plane. Lieberthal also stated that the individual may not be able to return to China, possibly never or at least not in the near future.