Vietnam’s omission from Chinese foreign minister’s Southeast Asia tour tells a story, observers say

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi wrapped up his latest trip to Southeast Asia on Saturday, during which he sought to stabilise relations in the region ahead of the inauguration of Joe Biden as US president. But of the 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), Wang has visited in recent months, one was conspicuously missing: Vietnam.
It is hardly a coincidence, according to diplomatic observers, as China has moved Asean up in its foreign policy priorities in recent months in the midst of its spiralling geopolitical rivalry with the US, Europe and America’s allies and partners in Asia-Pacific.

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3118023/vietnams-omission-chinese-foreign-ministers-southeast-asia