China Crisis

The lead article in today’s New York Times, “Dissident’s Plea for Protection Deepens a Crisis,” represents the first real test for President Obama’s State Department since he assumed office.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton coincidentally visiting China at the same time as the Chen Guangcheng escape exploded across the news must decide the best way to handle this, hopefully so our relationship with China remains intact and Mr. Chen’s wishes are fulfilled.

It is amazing the way this blind lawyer escaped house detention in a remote province and made his way 300 miles to Beijing, where he found temporary refuge in the American Embassy.

Mr. Chen was subsequently handed back to Chinese authorities after we received assurances about his protection. His unhappiness with his treatment in a Chinese hospital has deepened the crisis, which is crying out for some stellar diplomacy on our side.

If Secretary of State Clinton is able to resolve this situation, she will come out a hero and will be the odds on favorite for the Presidency in 2016. If not, well, she will still be a force to be reckoned with, but with an asterisk on her record. I have faith she will find a resolution, but only time will tell.