The Luxon administration needs to thoroughly understand circumstances before shaping its foreign policy. Japan's approach of building up regional states' capacity to resist challenges to their sovereignty, rather than asking them to choose sides in the US-China rivalry, is far likelier to succeed. New Zealand can intensify partnerships with Japan and Australia in domains like climate change, health, and education. Japan has invested in its alliance with the US and improved relations with South Korea. The Luxon administration's actions will attract attention from various groups, and its success will depend on foreign policy management as much as domestic governance. [6ca674ce]