SINGAPORE: A well-known Malay and Indonesian saying goes, when elephants fight, the mousedeer in the middle dies. This metaphor aptly captures Singapore's precarious position as it finds itself caught between the colliding interests of the two global superpowers, the United States and China. With geopolitical tensions between these nations escalating sharply in recent weeks, Singapore must exhibit remarkable agility to navigate this complex environment.

In a new wave of trade disputes, the United States took a bold step on April 9 by imposing an unprecedented 125 percent tariff on a range of Chinese imports. This move came on the heels of a 20 percent tariff that was implemented earlier in the year, which was primarily aimed at curbing the influx of fentanyl, a powerful opioid that has been a significant public health issue in the United States, into the country from China. The Chinese government quickly condemned this action, labeling it as blackmail and vowing to fight to the end. Within hours of the US announcement, China retaliated with an 84 percent tariff, which was subsequently increased to 125 percent on April 11, illustrating the tense tit-for-tat nature of the escalating trade war.

As the standoff deepens, Washington has ramped up its rhetoric against Beijing. In a recent appearance on Fox News, Vice President JD Vance made headlines by referring to the Chinese populace as peasants, stating, We borrow money from Chinese peasants to buy the things those Chinese peasants manufacture. Such inflammatory remarks not only highlight the tension but also evoke unsettling memories of previous instances where economic distress has ignited racial animosity.

Historically, Japan was the target of similar sentiments back in the 1980s, during which economic concerns culminated in acts of violence, such as the tragic murder of Vincent Chin, a Chinese American who was brutally killed by two white autoworkers blaming Japanese competition for the downturn in the US auto industry. This incident serves as a stark reminder of how quickly economic fears can morph into hostility based on race.

Today, the focus has shifted to China, with the anti-China narrative being fueled by a wave of uninformed and biased reporting in Anglophone media outlets. It is of little surprise that a significant portion of the American population now perceives China as an adversary. As Singapore stands at the crossroads of these rapidly changing geopolitical dynamics, the implications of this trade war extend far beyond its borders, compelling the nation to carefully strategize its position amidst the brewing storm.