Serious Eastern problems (7)
I believe the answer is:
earnest
'serious' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'eastern problems' is the wordplay.
'problems' is an anagram indicator (I've seen 'problem' mean this).
'eastern' is an anagram of 'EARNEST'.
(Other definitions for earnest that I've seen before include "Eastern (anag.)" , "Showing sincere and intense conviction" , "Serious, solemn" , "Intensely serious; token" , "money involved in contract" .)