Did Singapore have to fall to the Japanese in World War II?

Why did the Japanese invade Singapore during WWII?

The Japanese invasion of Singapore was part of a larger campaign in Southeast Asia. Japan had attacked China in 1937 but was in a stalemate by 1940. America had also imposed economic sanctions on Japan. Faced with severe shortages of oil and other natural resources, Japan decided to attack the United States and British forces in Asia and seize the resources of Southeast Asia. Watch the video below to appreciate the scope of Japan's expansion in Asia.

Adapted from: https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/world-war-ii-in-the-pacific 

Why did Singapore fall to the Japanese during WWII?

The British commander at the time, Lt Gen Arthur Percival, aware of the seemingly unstoppable Japanese pursuit, ordered his men to spread over 70 miles in order to face the oncoming onslaught. This proved a fatal mistake. With his forces, although far superior in number, spread so thinly, they were unable to repulse the Japanese forces and were completely overwhelmed. 

The leader of the Japanese forces, Yamashita, attacked with only 23,000 troops and on 8th Feb 1942, they entered Singapore. Just seven days later, on 15th Feb 1942, Singapore fell to the savagery and tenacity of the Japanese army. Percival surrendered in a futile attempt to prevent further loss of life. An estimated 100,000 people in Singapore were taken prisoner. Some 9,000 of whom were said to go on to die building the Burma-Thailand railway. The estimated deaths of those under the Japanese control in Singapore range from a Japanese estimate of 5,000 to that of the Chinese of 50,000. Whatever the exact figure is, it is undeniable that thousands lost their lives under the Japanese Occupation. 

Adapted from https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryofBritain/The-Fall-of-Singapore/