When Hillary Clinton first traveled abroad as secretary of state, she stated that the United States must prioritize working with China on global challenges over human rights disputes. Now, with Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng reportedly under US protection in Beijing, the US will see if China holds the same view. Chen's escape and request for US protection come at a sensitive time for both countries, with economic and security talks approaching and China dealing with a political scandal. US officials believe it is unlikely that Chen would be handed over to China against his will, leaving China to decide whether to risk damaging the overall relationship with the US or seek a compromise. This outcome is seen as likely, but not guaranteed. A senior official from the Obama administration, who requested anonymity, expressed doubt that the relationship between the US and China would be severely damaged. He noted that the current situation is not comparable to past incidents such as a spy plane collision or the Tiananmen Square massacre. The official believes that both countries will attempt to handle the situation carefully. In 2001, tensions between Beijing and Washington escalated after a collision between a Chinese fighter jet and a US surveillance plane. The relationship between the two countries had also reached a low point following the Tiananmen Square crackdown in 1989, when Chinese troops violently suppressed pro-democracy demonstrations. The United States has not yet confirmed reports that Chen fled from house arrest in China into the US embassy. China has also not directly commented on Chen's reported escape. According to Texas-based ChinaAid, Chen is currently under US protection and talks between US and Chinese officials are ongoing. This incident comes at an inconvenient time as US secretaries of state and treasury are set to visit Beijing for a dialogue. This situation is reminiscent of when Chinese official Wang Lijun sought refuge in the US consulate, leading to the Bo Xilai scandal. According to former CIA China analyst Chris Johnson, the current situation between the United States and China is very tense due to recent events such as the Bo Xilai case, Chen's escape, and the potential sale of new F-16s to Taiwan. Johnson believes that some in Beijing view these events as part of a US strategy to contain China's growth. How China's leadership handles these issues will depend on balancing nationalist sentiments with a desire to avoid disruptions to the communist party leadership succession. Shi Yinhong, an expert in US-China relations, believes that China will try to resolve the situation quickly and quietly to avoid negative impacts on foreign relations and domestic politics. The upcoming meetings between the two countries are crucial as they have too much at stake to cancel them. I believe the United States will not use this tactic to shame China. They are more interested in exerting their influence over China regarding issues in North Korea and Syria. They aim to minimize the repercussions of this situation as they are aware of the embarrassment it has caused China. Both countries have successfully resolved complex issues in the past, such as the incident on April 1, 2001, when a collision between a US Navy EP-3 signals intelligence plane and a Chinese fighter resulted in the death of a Chinese pilot and the emergency landing of the US aircraft on Hainan island. The 24 US crew-members were held captive until April 11, when they were released following a letter from the United States expressing regret for the death of the Chinese pilot and acknowledging that the EP-3 had entered China's airspace without permission. 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 could not take precedence over the global economic crisis, climate change, and security challenges. Despite the suggestion that human rights may be less of a priority, analysts believed it would be unacceptable for the US to hand over Chen against his will, citing both moral and political reasons. Tom Malinowski, a former White House staffer under President Bill Clinton and current Washington director for Human Rights Watch, emphasized that most people in the administration would view such a decision as completely unjust. Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has accused Obama of being weak on China, which would worsen if Obama were to abandon Chen. Analysts and rights activists have outlined two potential outcomes for Chen's case: he could be released in China with guarantees of safety, or he could go into exile despite his reluctance to leave. Kenneth Lieberthal, director of the John L. Thornton China Center at the Brookings Institution in Washington, stated that they would not make him leave without being extremely confident that he would not face repercussions for his actions. Lieberthal believes that it is difficult to have confidence in his safety if he remains in China, as anything could happen there. However, Lieberthal predicts that eventually he will be taken to the airport with promises of being able to leave the country. Lieberthal also believes that he will not be allowed back into China, likely never or at least not for a long time.