SINGAPORE (Aug 21): Sitting at the southern end of the strategic Malacca Strait, Singapore is Southeast Asia’s wealthiest state, a financial center where some of the world’s biggest banks do business. But the small nation of 278 square miles (720 square kilometers) has been snared in a tussle for influence between the US and China.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said his country should not have to choose between the big powers. Maintaining that balance has not been easy.

Singapore has found itself in China’s cross-hairs for allowing the US military to operate from the island-state. Equally, the election of Donald Trump as president has cast doubt on the future of the US commitment to the region. Trump has already abandoned a 12-nation Pacific trade pact that Singapore had strongly advocated.

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