Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in China Tuesday ahead of what promises to be a tension-filled few days of meetings with Chinese officials. At the top of Clinton’s list is the issue of Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng, who escaped house arrest and sought asylum at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing last week. Also on the U.S.-China agenda: North Korea’s attempted rocket launch and American plans on fortifying Taiwan's air defenses. Clinton will be negotiating over weapons sales, maritime security, and other delicate trade issues. Clinton’s trip marks her 98th visit to a country as secretary, tying her with former secretary of state Madeline Albright in the number of countries visited while in office.
