Disputes over history are the biggest contributing factor to friction between Japan and China, coming in ahead of economic rivalry and China's rise as an Asian power in a poll released Saturday.

More than 900 people in seven Asian countries were queried for The Straits Times-Asia News Network (ANN) poll on the state of relations between the two countries.

Disagreements over history were identified by 54 per cent of those polled as the major sticking point. Economic rivalry was picked by 18 per cent and China's rise as a regional power by 16 per cent.