I don't really get what Singapore is doing here, they could have benefited from being neutral like all the other ASEAN states. The US so far didn't even dare to sanction them, what makes Singapore chose differently here?
Singapore is being pretty smart about it.
Look at it this way. What is the most defining feature of Singapore?
It's small. Very small.
So they can get away with a lot things. They can say what they want and really not suffer any repercussions, well, because, they are too small for anyone else to be bother otherwise.
They know, they can speak freely. Does not matter if anyone listens, but Singapore has that latitude in their diplomatic relations, and they take full advantage of it.
Also, their policy is trying to be friends with everybody, because they are too small. So they want a good relationship with China, and a harmonious relationship with the United States. Repeatedly, Singapore has point blank said to the United States publicly do not make people in ASEAN choose sides.
Of course, the United States will never listen to that. The United States demands everyone be on their side, if not publicly then privately.
However, the United States is still powerful enough, that the current world trading system was spearheaded by them, it would make sense for everybody to have some sort of relationship with the Americans.
Times are changing though.