Damage control in high-stakes game

AT first the Nvidia chip episode didn’t seem that ominous. Recall that there was a report that some Nvidia chips had made their way to China from this part of the world, against US trade restrictions. (Those restrictions, which continue to be heightened, are aimed at limiting certain US-made technologies from getting into China, mostly for national security reasons.)

But today, it is at the centre of a blame game between Singapore and Malaysia, both seeking to avoid punitive measures by the United States in the form of trade sanctions and restrictions. It would not be a surprise if Singapore has sent a team to Washington to clarify their stance.