Do neighbouring countries have a more intense rivalry than countries that are geographically further apart?

I'd say neighbouring countries often have stronger rivalries, mainly because they share borders and compete over resources or cultural influence. For example, in East Asia, China and Japan have a long history of political tension and territorial disputes, which still affects public opinion today. That said, distance doesn't always mean less rivalry-countries far apart can still clash over global issues like trade or technology leadership, as we see between China and the US. But overall, proximity tends to intensify competition because neighbours interact more frequently and directly.