Singapore’s Balakrishnan warns Hormuz just a ‘dry run’ if US, China clash
Foreign minister also says Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia have a ‘strategic interest’ in keeping the Strait of Malacca open
His stance however contrasted with those at a separate event by Jakarta’s finance minister, who reportedly floated the idea of fees for the strait, but conceded it would be a complicated process.
During a panel at CNBC Converge Live in Singapore, Balakrishnan was asked if the city state was under pressure from the United States and China to choose between them given the current geopolitical climate.
“Not yet for us,” he said at the forum at Jewel Changi Airport.
He noted that when he engaged US President Donald Trump, he reminded the American leader of the significant “good skin in the game” Washington wore in Southeast Asia in the form of foreign direct investment, which was more than in India, China, Japan and South Korea combined.