I N C R EA S E D I N C R EA S E D W E S T E R N W E S T E R N I N T E R E S T I N T E R E S T I N B R U N E I I N B R U N E I

Beginning o f 16

cen tur y

Brunei was an impor tan t Brunei was an impor tan t sul tana te in nor thwes tern par t o f sul tana te in nor thwes tern par t o f Borneo,Borneo,i t was s tra tegicall y loca ted o f f i t was s tra tegicall y loca ted o f f the sea lanes o f Sou th China Sea. the sea lanes o f Sou th China Sea.Howe ver, Brunei’s au thori t y o ver Howe ver, Brunei’s au thori t y o ver i ts vas t terri tor y had begun to i ts vas t terri tor y had begun to weak en due to the coming o f weak en due to the coming o f the the Wes tern powers Wes ter

n powers..