Well if it has to happen, then I think it will in Asian Sub-continent region. The tensions, the drama, the threats, instability, are just too much. Name it, and every possible reason for starting WW3 is available there. China backing Pakistan, Russia backing India, tensions between India-Pakistan, India-China, America being diplomatic with all of them, all the spices are available.
Asia is quite stable now. Tensions between China and India has mostly subsided, although a lot of bad blood still exists between India and Pakistan. And China is no longer backing Pakistan, and Russia is no longer backing India. So we can be quite sure that even if a war between India and Pakistan breaks out, it will not turn out to be the 3rd World War.
I don't agree with your thinking.
In South Asia we have a lot of conflicts between China and its neighbors, because of border disputes.
China has outstanding border disputes with almost all its neighbors, including the Philippines, Japan, S. Korea, India etc.
The neighboring countries are even arming and strengthen their armies and starting to feel insecure because of aggressive Chinese policy.
Not yet broke open armed conflict but is not turned off in the near future.