Beijing, Jan. 17 -- : Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited all member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in recent months except Vietnam, South China Morning Post reported.
Observers believe that Wang skipping Vietnam is a result of "growing antagonism and tensions between the old Communist allies" over their South China Sea dispute, which have been compounded by the US factor and uncertainties over internal power politics in Hanoi.
Wang Yi wrapped up his latest trip to Southeast Asia on Saturday with an aim to stabilise relations in the region ahead of the inauguration of Joe Biden as the US President.
While ASEAN overtook the European Union as China's top trading partner last year, Vietnam replaced Germany...