US diplomat in Beijing as activist custody unknown

BEIJING — A senior U.S. diplomat is in Beijing on a hastily arranged trip as problems from the escape of a blind legal activist to possible new arms sales to Taiwan threaten to derail fragile U.S.-China cooperation.


In this photo taken in late April, 2012, and provided by Hu Jia, blind Chinese legal activist Chen Guangcheng, left, meets with Hu at an undisclosed location. Chen, an inspirational figure in China's rights movement, slipped away from his well-guarded rural village on Sunday night, April 22, 2012, and made it to a secret location in Beijing on Friday, April 27, setting off a frantic police search for him and those who helped him, activists said. (AP Photo/Courtesy of Hu Jia)

In this image made from video, blind legal activist Chen Guangcheng is seen on a video posted to YouTube Friday, April 27, 2012 by overseas Chinese news site Boxun.com. "I am now free. But my worries have not ended yet," Chen said in the video that was recorded this week and that activists sent Friday to Boxun.com. Speaking to a camera in a room with an off-white curtain drawn behind him, Chen said, "My escape might ignite a violent revenge against my family." (AP Photo/Boxun.com)

FILE - In this undated file photo released by his supporters, blind activist Chen Guangcheng sits in a village in China. Rights campaigners said Friday, April 27, 2012 that Chen, a leading figure in China's rights movement, escaped the house arrest he lived under for 18 months in Shandong province this week. (AP Photo/Supporters of Chen Guangcheng, File) NO SALES

A Chinese paramilitary police officer stands guard at the entrance of the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, China, Sunday, April 29, 2012. Chen Guangcheng, a blind legal activist who escaped house arrest in his rural Chinese village, is under the protection of American officials, activists said Saturday, creating a diplomatic dilemma for the U.S. and China days ahead of a visit by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. (AP Photo/ Vincent Thian)
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The U.S. Embassy won't discuss the agenda for Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, who arrived early Sunday. Campbell was originally scheduled to arrive ahead of high-level U.S.-China talks that begin Thursday.

His trip comes after activist Chen Guangcheng escaped from house arrest in his rural village. Fellow activists say he is under the protection of American officials.

The White House also says it is considering selling new warplanes to Taiwan.

Both Chen's case and Taiwan are certain to anger Beijing as interference in China's domestic affairs.