Secretary of State Marco Rubio wants to bolster ties with Asia to counter Beijing’s power, but President Trump’s tariff threats have nations asking why they should align with Washington.

China has been a fierce critic of sweeping U.S. tariffs that Trump announced on April 2. He later delayed the implementation of most but China, which has said it will respond with its own tariffs on U.S. imports, now faces a deadline next month to negotiate a deal.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Malaysia on Friday. The high-stakes meeting comes as tensions grow between Washington and Beijing over issues from trade to security and China’s support for Russia’s war in Ukraine.