(CBS/AP) BEIJING – A former police chief whose flight to a U.S. consulate set off China’s biggest political scandal in years has been charged with crimes including defection and bribe taking, state media reported Wednesday, indicating the turbulent affair is moving closer to a resolution before a key national leadership transition this fall. Wednesday evening’s announcement of the charges against Wang Lijun came hours before the end of a brief visit to Beijing by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and was likely timed to send a message to Washington that China’s government is in full control and would strongly object to any foreign involvement in its internal politics. U.S. officials say they were not told that Wang would be charged while Clinton was in the country. CBS News correspondent Margaret Brennan, covering Clinton’s visit to China this week, says throughout the visit there was notable “internal churn” among Chinese officials regarding to the political scandals which have emerged.