Related by context. Frequent words. (Click for all words.) 58 heightened tensions 51 heightened tension 44 Tensions 44 tensions 43 heighten tensions 43 ease tensions 41 escalating tensions 40 inflame tensions 40 defuse tensions 39 escalated 39 roiled 38 provoked 38 intensified 38 worsened 37 angered 37 severely weakened 37 stoked fears 37 clashed 36 diplomatic ties 36 soured 36 strained 36 mend ties 36 complicate 36 loggerheads 36 antagonized 36 sparked outrage 35 Tension 35 territorial dispute 35 clashes 35 flashpoint 35 deeply divided 35 exacerbated 35 cast shadow 35 escalate tensions 35 destabilize 35 erupted 34 former colonial ruler 34 inflamed 34 naval drills 34 severely disrupted 34 caused consternation 34 complicates 34 marred 34 tension 34 complicating 34 Violent clashes 34 Sectarian violence 34 frosty relations 34 increasingly assertive 33 disrupted 33 clashes erupted 33 infuriated 33 beset 33 flared 33 destabilized 33 widespread condemnation 33 diplomatic spat 33 hardliners 33 wreaked havoc 33 violent clashes 33 simmering tensions 33 stoking fears 33 easing tensions 33 sparked 33 ethnic tensions 32 riven 32 provoked outrage 32 Clashes 32 defuse tension 32 assumes significance 32 raised hackles 32 sporadic clashes 32 standoff 32 disputed islands 32 heightening fears 32 bedeviled 32 bitterly opposed 32 hard liners 32 divided peninsula 32 harshly criticized 32 US brokered 32 riled 32 remained defiant 32 casting shadow 31 skirmished 31 traded barbs 31 continued unabated 31 provoking 31 risen sharply 31 hardline 31 roundly criticized 31 escalates 31 restive 31 US backed 31 tense 31 Clashes erupted 31 aggravate 31 sectarian tensions 31 fractious 31 locked horns 31 Violence erupted