Singapore is trying to navigate the US-China rivalry regardless of the outcome of the presidential election

As the United States presidential election approaches, Singapore is watching closely how the outcome could affect the delicate tightrope walk between the world’s largest economy and China amid their ongoing geopolitical rivalry and trade war.

The city-state has adapted well to the evolving realities arising from the fallout of the US-China rivalry, analysts say.

Regardless of who becomes the next leader of the US after The elections of November 5 – Vice President Kamala Harris or the former president Donald Trump — the fundamentals of America’s foreign policy toward China and Asia are unlikely to change drastically because much of the uncertainty has been factored in, according to analysts.

“While Trump may inject more uncertainty and unpredictability, a Harris presidency will not and cannot suddenly generate stability, peace and predictability,” said Dylan Loh, an assistant professor in Nanyang Technological University’s division of public policy and global affairs. .

Last week, the Prime Minister and former Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong warned that if Trump imposed tariffs of 60% or higher on Chinese goods in his second term, as he has promised, Singapore would be entering “uncharted territory”.

“On the American side, there aren’t many issues that Democrats and Republicans agree on, but this is one (US China policy). And this is a very serious matter. So whether it’s Harris or Trump, that’s not going to change,” Lee said at a business event last week.

A second Trump term would likely mean more disruption for US allies and other countries, he said. “In particular, I think, what you can anticipate is that his attitude toward allies, toward America’s friends, will be different than what the Democratic administration has done over the last four years,” Lee added.