Quora Answer: Does Singapore Need to Buy Land from Its Neighbours?

The following is my answer to a Quora question: “Does Singapore need to buy some land from its neighbours?”

There are only two countries close enough, that Singapore could practically consider buying land from: Indonesia, and Malaysia.  Neither of them are inclined to do so, and they have no incentive to consider such a course of action.

In the modern era, buying land from another sovereign entity is a complicated matter.  The worth of the land is more than in the real estate, but also mineral rights.  In the case of coastal areas or islands, it is about access to exclusive economic zones.  Those numbers are difficult to quantify, and always large.  Land also means people, and the issue of their citizenship.

Politically, no elected government wants to give away land, and lose an election as a result of it.  It is political suicide since sovereignty is an emotive issue.  That land may be worthless to one nation, but the people are emotionally invested in the idea of having more territory.

Within maritime Southeast Asia, all that land around Singapore and her immediate neighbours are along littoral waters of the busiest shipping lanes in the world.  There are oil and other mineral deposits, and fishing grounds.  That land has real and strategic value.  Both nations are not stupid enough to contemplate a sale to Singapore.

Accordingly, Singapore has dealt with the issue in a different way: land reclamation.  Since independence, Singapore has grown by 22%.  By 2030, it will be closer to 30%.  Singapore also compensates by building upwards, and downwards.  Much of the population stays in apartments, much of the office space is found in tall buildings.  Tunnels for the road and train network, underground storage and reservoirs, as well as buildings free up more land for parks and other uses.