That has allowed for a partial reset, but not a full resolution.For Wong, this means dealing with three versions of China at once: defensive and sensitive with Japan, pragmatic but conditional with South Korea, and selectively stabilising with Australia.Among these relationships, the China-Japan axis is the most volatile.Australia's ties with Japan are deep and expanding, particularly in defence and security.For Canberra, this is a response to a more uncertain regional environment It is also shaped by the unresolved legacy of Japan's wartime actions in China.That history is consistently reinforced in public messaging and education, and it continues to influence how Chinese officials and the public interpret Japan's role in the region.This has practical consequences for Australia.Closer cooperation with Japan, whether through joint exercises, defence agreements or regional initiatives, can be seen in Beijing as part of a broader effort to limit China's influence.That perception does not depend on Australia's stated intent.For Wong, the challenge is to maintain and deepen Australia's partnership with Japan while managing the way those actions are read in Beijing.That requires careful signalling, particularly at a time when military activity in the region is increasing and the risk of miscalculation remains present.China's relationship with South Korea presents a different set of considerations for Australia.Unlike its ties with Japan, Beijing's relationship with Seoul is more adaptable