Foreign media: Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan issued a warning at the CONVERGE LIVE forum that if a conflict were to break out between China and the United States in the Pacific, the current situation in the Strait of Hormuz would merely be a "rehearsal," with the scale of impact far exceeding this scenario.
Against the backdrop of Sino-U.S. rivalry, Singapore has clearly rejected taking sides. Vivian pointed out that the United States is Singapore's largest source of foreign investment, with approximately 6,000 American companies operating in Singapore, and Singapore maintains a goods trade deficit of around $3.6 billion with the U.S.; meanwhile, China is Singapore’s largest trading partner, while Singapore is also China’s top source of foreign investment. He emphasized: "We act based on Singapore’s long-term national interests and will not be used by anyone."
Vivian also addressed the issue concerning the Strait of Malacca, stating that Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia share common strategic interests in maintaining the smooth operation of shipping routes and will not emulate Iran’s practice of charging tolls for passage through the Strait of Hormuz. The narrowest point of the Strait of Malacca is only two nautical miles wide—far narrower than Hormuz’s 21 nautical miles. He reiterated that Singapore adheres to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, saying, "Transit passage is open to all, and we will not participate in any blockades or toll collection."
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1863164174165064/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) alone.