TOKYO : Christopher in Asia

Secretary of State Warren Christopher visits Tokyo this week, and is scheduled to go on to Beijing, facing crisis talks at both stops. His meetings in Tokyo, which begin Wednesday, will concentrate on growing trade frictions. The Clinton Administration’s decision to renew a provision of trade law that could be used to retaliate against Japanese imports has produced a wave of protests in Japan.

U.S.-China relations have reached a low point because of China’s human rights record. State Department officials hinted last week that Christopher may skip the Beijing visit altogether, but so far it remains on.

On his way home next Monday, the secretary plans to stop in the Russian Far East port of Vladivostok for talks with Russian Foreign Minister Andrei A. Kozyrev.