China and America's on-off dialogue on human rights faces postponement again amid discord between the two powers over internet censorship.
Talks were meant to take place last year, but a date was never set.
The two countries agreed in November, during Barack Obama's visit to China, that they would resume discussions by the end of February at the latest. This now looks unlikely and it is thought the US is suggesting dates in late March.
"We are still continuing to work with the Chinese to schedule," said a state department official. "Human rights dialogue is a priority for the US."
Although critics complain the dialogue has achieved little, advocates say it is an opportunity to raise important issues and individual cases of concern directly.
Some observers believe US officials could be tarrying, fearing that if they do not get a substantive agenda for the talks China could say it is engaging on human rights – but the US could get little in return.
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