Does Singapore Land Reclamation Interrupts Indonesian Sovereignty? Debates between the Public and International Law Implementation

Singapore has long been known for its massive demand for space. This phenomenon is based on the limitation of land that is unable to match with the fast-growing infrastructure and public facilities development in recent decades. Land reclamation accounted for roughly 23 percent and this was predicted to grow continuously. This research discussed the land reclamation debate that has been done by Singapore toward Indonesian perception against sovereignty and more importantly coastal degradation in the Indonesian region of Riau Islands. This research uses literature review to obtain both descriptive and numerical data from 1965 to present both from Indonesian legal perspective and Singapore. The finding was the International Law implementation through UNCLOS 1982 has been updated between the two to delimitate their maritime border through at least 8 coordinates on the Singapore Strait. However, these debates are ongoing and often shaped by differing interpretations of international law and could have worsened the maritime ecosystem and contribute to land loss of Batam Island and its surroundings.