By Bruce Stokes, Director of Economic Attitudes, Pew Research Center

Special to Foreign Policy

While the world focuses on the tragic downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 over Ukraine and the deepening Israeli-Palestinian conflict, tensions in another of the world’s hot spots — the periphery of China — continue to simmer. There is widespread concern among many of China’s neighbors — including Japan, Vietnam, and India — that Beijing’s territorial ambitions could lead to military conflict. And that concern appears to be growing. Even the Chinese are now worried about whether such frictions could lead to war. The United States and Europe may be distracted by pressing events in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, but Asians don’t have that luxury. Tensions closer to home preoccupy them, according to a new Pew Research Center survey of nearly 15,000 people in 11 Asian nations.

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