Comprehending Brunei Darussalam’s vanishing claims in the South China Sea: China’s exertion of economic power and the influence of elite perception

Under the lens of Neoclassical Realism, this article aims to comprehend the vanishing claims of Brunei in the South China Sea, by considering systemic stimuli and elite perceptions as major factors to the foreign policy decision. The results of this research indicate that; (1) The current Multipolar International system contributed to Brunei’s decision to secure BRI-related development investments and to advance the two-way trade between the countries, (2) The unified perception of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Brunei MOFA, and the Royal Brunei Navy to place more weight on the perception of alignment for future economic gains, therefore, side-lining their claims.