US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday began meetings with his Asian and Indo-Pacific counterparts as Washington looks to solidify support among the regional allies at a time of historically tense ties with China.

Pompeo’s trip comes at a time when Washington and Beijing, the world’s top two economies, are at loggerheads over a wide range of issues from Beijing’s handling of the coronavirus to its imposition of a new security law in Hong Kong and ambitions in the South China Sea.

Washington greatly values the meeting of the Quad grouping of foreign ministers, from the United States, Japan, Australia and India, as a platform to strengthen its solidarity against China with regional allies.

“We’re hoping to have some significant announcements, significant achievements,” Pompeo said.