Brunei's Bordering Neighbours: Who Are They?

Brunei is a small Islamic sultanate located in Southeast Asia on the island of Borneo. It is surrounded by Malaysia, which also divides the nation into two disconnected territories. The western segment is larger and home to the capital city of Bandar Seri Begawan. Brunei gained independence from the British in 1984 and has since enjoyed good relations with its neighbour, despite previous border disputes.

Brunei is bordered by the South China Sea

Brunei's maritime border with Malaysia stretches from the coastline of the two countries to the edge of the continental shelf in the South China Sea. The western sector of the maritime border consists of the seaward extension from the terminus of Brunei's western boundary with the state of Sarawak. The western Brunei Bay sector helps define the boundary when headed to Bartang Limbang, starting at the Pandaren River estuary and running to Pulau Silamak. The eastern sector extends from the terminus of Brunei's Temburong boundary with Sarawak to the Brunei-Sabah-Sarawak point.

Brunei's EEZ claim includes waters surrounding the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. The country also claims Louisa Reef, which is under the control of Malaysia. Brunei's continental shelf claim spans 200 nautical miles into the sea, with the borders of the claimed area running straight from the points of termination of its borders on its coast.

The South China Sea is an important waterway for international trade and commerce, with a significant portion of global shipping passing through the region. The sea is also a source of natural resources, such as hydrocarbon products, which contribute significantly to Brunei's economy.

The presence of the South China Sea coastline has influenced Brunei's history and development, including its maritime border agreements with neighbouring countries and its economic activities related to natural resource extraction.

Malaysia surrounds Brunei on all other sides

Malaysia surrounds Brunei on all sides except for its northern coastline, which borders the South China Sea. Brunei is located on the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia, and the Malaysian state of Sarawak surrounds it.

Brunei is a small nation with a population of around 455,858 as of 2023. It gained independence from British rule in 1984 and is now a fully sovereign Islamic sultanate. The nation consists of two disconnected territories, separated by the state of Sarawak, with the western segment being significantly larger than the eastern part. The capital, Bandar Seri Begawan, is located in the larger western segment.

Brunei has a rich history and was once a powerful maritime empire, with control over most of Borneo and territories beyond. However, internal strife and the expansion of colonial powers led to a decline, and Brunei lost much of its territory to the Brooke dynasty and the British.

The border between Malaysia and Brunei is approximately 528.45 km (328.36 mi) long and includes substantial maritime boundaries stretching from the coastline into the South China Sea. The exact border has been a point of contention, with various agreements over the years defining different sections. In 2009, an exchange of letters between the two nations helped resolve territorial disputes and establish a joint commercial arrangement for oil and gas exploitation.

Despite being surrounded by Malaysia, Brunei maintains friendly relations with its larger neighbour, with strong cultural links dating back to the Brunei Empire. The two nations have worked together to resolve border disputes and have agreements in place for joint development in the energy sector.

Brunei is located on the island of Borneo

Brunei has a unique geography, consisting of two disconnected territories with a total land area of 2,226 square miles (5,765 sq km). The larger territory is in the west and contains the capital city of Bandar Seri Begawan, while the smaller territory is in the east and is known as the Temburong District. The two territories are separated by the Sarawak district of Limbang, which bifurcates Brunei's landmass.

Brunei has a population of approximately 455,858 as of 2023, with about 180,000 people residing in the capital city. The official language is Malay, and Islam is the state religion. The country gained independence from British rule in 1984 and is now a constitutional absolute monarchy ruled by the Sultan, with a unicameral legislature called the Legislative Council.

Brunei's economy is heavily dependent on its extensive petroleum and natural gas fields, which account for a significant portion of its GDP and export revenues. The country has a small armed force, including army, navy, and air force units, and its security is supplemented by the Royal Brunei police and a battalion of British forces stationed in the country.

In summary, Brunei is located on the island of Borneo, sharing its land borders with Malaysia and with coastline along the South China Sea. It has a unique geography, a rich cultural heritage, and a strong economic position due to its natural resources.

The Sarawak district of Limbang bifurcates Brunei's territory

Limbang, located on the island of Borneo, is a border town and the capital of the Limbang District in the Limbang Division of northern Sarawak, East Malaysia. It is situated between the two halves of Brunei and has a population of approximately 56,900 people as of the 2020 census. Due to its location, Limbang is only accessible by road through immigration posts in Brunei, and it has strong road links to both parts of the country. The district has two border crossing checkpoints into Brunei: Tedungan, located 43 kilometres west of Limbang, and Pandaruan, situated 15 kilometres east.

Historically, Limbang was a significant region for Brunei, serving as its “rice bowl” and producing cheap agricultural goods for the Bruneian Empire. In the 19th century, the Bruneian Empire began to decline, and it ceded territories, including Sarawak, to James Brooke, who became known as the White Rajah. Brooke and his nephews gradually leased or annexed more land, including Limbang in 1890, reducing Brunei's territory and separating it into two parts. This annexation was strongly disputed by Brunei and remains a contentious issue.

The de facto boundary between Limbang and Brunei runs along the watershed of the Brunei and Limbang River basins on the western side and follows the Pandaruan River on the eastern side. While boundary agreements have delineated portions of the western border, other stretches remain undefined. The dispute over Limbang has persisted, with Brunei maintaining its claim to the district. In contrast, Malaysia considers the issue settled in its favour through agreements and exchanges of letters in the early 2000s.

The Limbang district's role in bifurcating Brunei's territory has significant implications for the country's geography, politics, and relations with neighbouring countries. It has resulted in unique travel and trade dynamics, with passport requirements for travel into and out of Limbang and ongoing negotiations over border demarcation and maritime boundaries. The situation also highlights the complex historical relationships and power dynamics in the region, shaping the current landscape of Southeast Asia.

Brunei's border with Malaysia was amicably resolved in 2009

Brunei is a small Islamic sultanate located in Southeast Asia on the island of Borneo. It has a coastline with the South China Sea and is surrounded by its larger neighbour, Malaysia. Brunei consists of two disconnected territories that occupy a total land area of 2,226 square miles and are separated by the state of Sarawak. The segment to the west is significantly larger than the part on the east and is home to the nation's capital, Bandar Seri Begawan. The nation gained its independence from the British in 1984 and has since seen its population rise to 428,000.

Brunei's 200-nautical-mile continental shelf claim makes it a claimant of a portion of the South China Sea, which is subject to multiple overlapping claims by China, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Malaysia. This has resulted in long-standing disputes with Malaysia over land and maritime territories. However, due to the cultural ties between the two countries, the disputes have always been low-key and deemed too sensitive to be discussed openly.

The Brunei–Malaysia border divides the territories of the two countries on the island of Borneo. It consists of a 528.45 km (328.36 mi) land border and substantial lengths of maritime borders stretching from the coastline of the two countries to the edge of the continental shelf in the South China Sea. Almost half of the 299-mile border with Sarawak has, over the years, been defined by various agreements, with a section of the boundary remaining undefined.

The Brunei–Malaysia border dispute was amicably resolved in 2009 through an exchange of letters. The letters, which have not been disclosed to the public, settled a number of sovereignty-related issues between the two neighbouring nations. The issues resolved included the delimitation of maritime boundaries, the establishment of a Commercial Arrangement Area (CAA) for oil and gas, and the delimitation of the territorial seas, the continental shelf, and the exclusive economic zones (EEZs) of both countries.

The exchange of letters affirmed five historical boundary agreements between Brunei and Sarawak from the British colonial era. These agreements defined sections of the border, including the border as it runs along the Pandaruan River (1920), the border between the Baram and Belait rivers, the border between the coast and the Pagalayan Canal (1931), and the border to the east of Temborong (1931). Other areas defined include the border between the Brunei Bay and a point to the west of Godang Hill, which is demarcated along the Limbang Rivers and the watershed of Brunei (1933), and the border between the Teraja Hills and the Palagayan Canal (1939).

The exchange of letters in 2009 also established a joint commercial arrangement area for the two countries to share the proceeds from the exploitation of hydrocarbon resources in the disputed area. This arrangement allowed for the continued positive bilateral relations between Brunei and Malaysia.

The process of demarcating the boundary commenced after the exchange of letters, with priority given to the areas identified by the five historical agreements. In August 2024, 175.96 km, or 33.3% of the total land boundary length, had been demarcated and surveyed, with the entire land boundary targeted for completion by 2034.

The amicable resolution of the Brunei–Malaysia border dispute in 2009 was a significant step towards strengthening the bilateral relations between the two countries and ensuring the peaceful coexistence of Brunei and its larger neighbour, Malaysia.

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