Kajian ini menganalisis mengenai sikap Brunei Darussalam yang lebih memilih bekerja sama dengan RRC dibandingkan meminta bantuan AS, meski RRC adalah musuh Brunei Darussalam dalam konflik laut Cina Selatan. Studi ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif dengan berfokus pada desk study. Melalui tiga variabel teori kerangka analisis Small State Foreign Policy Behaviour, yaitu power and weakness, the availability of allies, dan the vulnerability of state, diidentifikasi bahwa terdapat tiga faktor yang mempengaruhi Brunei Darussalam lebih memilih bekerja sama dengan RRC. Pertama, Brunei Darussalam memandang RRC memiliki power yang lebih besar daripada AS terutama dalam bidang ekonomi. Kedua, RRC memiliki potensi yang lebih besar daripada AS untuk dapat membantu Brunei Darussalam memulihkan keadaan ekonominya yang dilanda krisis. Oleh sebab itu, Brunei Darussalam sebagai aktor rasional memandang bahwa pemulihan ekonomi lebih utama dibanding melakukan konfrontasi terhadap RRC di laut Cina Selatan. Ketiga, terdapat ketergantungan ekonomi dan militer yang dimiliki oleh Brunei Darussalam terhadap RRC sehingga Brunei Darussalam lebih memilih melakukan strategi bandwagoning terhadap RRC.

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This study analizes the behaviour of Brunei Darussalam who took a stand to cooperate with People’s Republic of China (PRC) instead of United States (US), although PRC was the enemy of Brunei Darussalam on South China Sea conflict. This study uses qualitative research method which focused on desk study. There are three variables of Small State Foreign Policy Behaviour, which are power and weakness, the availability of allies, and the vulnerability of state, to identify Brunei Darussalam’s preferency. First, Brunei Darussalam took a stand by bandwagoning towards PRC because for Brunei Darussalam, PRC has bigger power and capability than US, especially economics power. Second, PRC has bigger potential than US to help Brunei Darussalam overcome its economy crisis. As a rational actor, Brunei Darussalam perceives economic recovery was more important than to resolve its dispute with PRC in South China Sea. Third, Brunei Darussalam’s economic and military dependence to PRC. Those three factors are identified as a main reason which cause Brunei Darussalam’s Bandwagoning strategy towards PRC.