The Strait of Hormuz chaos is just a ‘dry run’ for if war breaks out between the U.S. and China, Singapore foreign minister says

Today’s tumult in the Strait of Hormuz may be a dress rehearsal for tomorrow’s war in the Pacific, according to Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan. The city-state considers both the United States and China as partners. U.S. entities make up the largest share of its largest foreign investments, with American multinational enterprises directly pouring $467.6 billion into the country in 2024. Not only that, the U.S. trade surplus with Singapore reached $3.6 billion last year, per U.S. Trade Representative data , a 91.5% increase from 2024’s $1.7 billion. At the same time, Singapore also reached its largest trade partnership with China, exporting $58.8 billion worth of goods there in 2023. While the U.S. looks to extend a tenuous ceasefire as the war in Iran continues, China is maintaining a low profile, publicly as a peacekeeper. Despite this happening on the world stage, Balakrishnan said he doesn’t feel like Singapore has to pick between the two countries. However, should tensions between the U.S. and China escalate in a future conflict, Singapore may be placed in a challenging position to navigate its best interests while maintaining diplomacy with its two partners. “Are we exquisitely positioned to take advantage of developments in both America and China? We are,” he said. “The main danger is: That relationship fractures if they go to war in the Pacific. What you’re witnessing now in the Strait of Hormuz is just a dry run.” Singapore’s stake in the Iran war The ongoing conflict in the Gulf may be jostling the U.S. and China’s positions as global superpowers. Shipping traffic at the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world’s oil usually passes, has yet to return to its normal flow . As the U.S. blockade seeks to stymie Iran’s oil revenue, it is also leaving oil prices elevated and threatening high gas prices and inflation in the U.S. Meanwhile, China has quietly benefitted from the U.S.’s exertions in the war. While its export market is slowing …