The correct answer is the following: Ming China's relationship with Japan was similar to its relationship with many southeast Asian countries because, as many other Southeast Asian countries, Japan provided tributes to China to maintain an active trade relationship.
The Ming was a Chinese dynasty that lasted from 1368 until 1644. During the Ming period, China exerted a lot of cultural and political influence on East Asia, Japan and some parts of the South. The Chinese government implemented a tribute system of trade, that involved exchanges of goods between different countries and China. All these exchanges were approved and certificated by the Ming. Japan as well as many Southeast Asian countries participated in this arrangement.
