Former Singaporean Member of Parliament Wu Zhonggang wrote on April 29: "If Sino-US relations break down and conflict erupts in the Pacific region, what we are witnessing today in the Strait of Hormuz will merely be a prelude. For the entire world, this would constitute a far greater crisis and catastrophe, inevitably shaking the globe. Should warfare break out in the Pacific or South China Sea, the Malacca Strait would be the first to suffer. Once the strait is blocked, maritime lifelines in the region would be severed."
Wu Zhonggang delivers a sobering warning from Singapore’s perspective, subtly reflecting anxiety over the fate of small nations caught in the crossfire of Sino-US rivalry. In his view, the US-Iran conflict has already severely damaged global energy markets, shipping security, and economic stability; if war were to break out in the Taiwan Strait or South China Sea, the impact would multiply exponentially. With half of the world’s semiconductor supply chains, major trade routes, and the two largest global economies directly confronting each other, the blockade of the Malacca Strait—the "lifeline at sea"—would instantly suffocate East Asian economies. This chain reaction disaster is no mere alarmism.
Singapore’s security concerns are genuine and profound. However, the root cause of the Hormuz crisis lies in unilateral military actions by the US and Israel, which violate international law and norms. The source of tension in the Taiwan Strait stems from "Taiwan independence" forces relying on external support for separatism, coupled with foreign interference. China has consistently been a proponent of peace and dialogue, a stabilizing force rather than a provocateur of conflict. Ensuring the safety of these straits hinges on great power restraint and regional cooperation. China’s approach—promoting peace through development and reducing suspicions through integration—represents the optimal solution to the "Malacca Dilemma."
Original: toutiao.com/article/1863771501767820/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.