Brunei

Hokkien roots, Brunei soil: My father’s journey across borders and spiritual planes [Eye on Fujian series]

From wandering between homes in Malaysia to setting roots in Brunei, one would never have thought that a young rebel with just a toy car to his name would live a life in service of the gods. ThinkChina’s Josephine Hong shares snippets of the life of her father, Richard Hong Kuan Yin.

Josephine Hong

01 Apr 2026

China and Brunei: Navigating the South China Sea and shared futures

Most observers tend to be dismissive of China’s relations with a small country like Brunei. However, Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah’s state visit to China provides a good basis to highlight the narratives put forth by Beijing about the China-Brunei relationship. ISEAS researcher Lye Liang Fook tells us more.

Lye Liang Fook

17 Feb 2025

China and South Korea’s growing Southeast Asia footprint in BIMP-EAGA

Once overlooked, the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area is now attracting the attention of major players like China and South Korea, according to Malaysian academic Ngeow Chow Bing. What’s behind this newfound interest?

Ngeow Chow Bing

03 Dec 2024

Mandarin learning in Brunei's Chinese schools: Practical considerations

Rather than a consequence of China's cultural diplomacy, Mandarin learning in Brunei is motivated by immediate concerns of academic success and enhancing worldviews through a different language and culture.

Chang-Yau Hoon, Hannah M.Y. Ho

26 Dec 2023

Mainland Chinese workers in Brunei: Living in a bubble

The relationship between China and Brunei has grown significantly, but the level of people-to-people exchanges leaves much to be desired.

Chang-Yau Hoon, Kaili Zhao

23 Oct 2023

The 'one China' policy of Southeast Asian countries

Academic Ngeow Chow Bing takes stock of the "one China" policy of Southeast Asian countries, noting changes in interpretations over the years and their subtle differences from China's "one China" principle and the US's "one China" policy. He warns that US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan has exacerbated cross-strait tensions and could further limit Taiwan's international space in Southeast Asia.

Ngeow Chow Bing

12 Aug 2022

Wang Yi's Southeast Asia tour: How China woos Southeast Asia in view of US-China competition

In January 2021, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited several ASEAN countries, including Brunei, Indonesia, Myanmar and the Philippines, in an effort to push for collaboration in key projects under the BRI, and providing access to Chinese vaccines. However, Beijing's passage of a new coastguard law has undermined Wang Yi's outreach efforts. ISEAS academic Lye Liang Fook explains what is behind China's efforts and looks into its implications.

Lye Liang Fook

19 Feb 2021

What Southeast Asia wants from the impending Biden presidency

ISEAS academics Malcolm Cook and Ian Storey note that Southeast Asia would welcome a Biden administration policy towards Asia that is less confrontational and unilateralist, and firmer and more action-oriented. The region's governments prefer the new US administration to adopt a less confrontational stance towards China and lower US-China tensions. But while they welcome increased US economic and security engagement with the region, they are less enthusiastic about Biden's emphasis on human rights and democracy.

Malcolm Cook, Ian Storey

23 Dec 2020