Brunei-Chinese Relations in the 21st Century

Abstract

In the 21st century China is intensively penetrating the region. Beijing promotes its geopolitical agenda in the region through various methods – military, political, and economic methods. In the region, in addition to large states such as Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines, there are also small states like Singapore, Brunei, and East Timor. They are also greatly influenced by China, but they cannot resist China to the same extent as their larger neighbors do. Therefore, these countries are trying to seek mutual benefit in cooperation with China. If Singapore successfully builds its mutual cooperation with Beijing, while East Timor has long been a puppet of PRC. This article aims to analyze Brunei-China relations and answer the question: "Is Brunei a partner for the Celestial Empire or a new conductor of China's interests in the region."