Lanfang Overseas Province held a relatively important position on East Africa's geographical map. It lay close to the Strait of Malacca, while Borneo, where it was located, was known as the crossroads of the South Seas. Though it could not compare with the British-controlled Straits Settlements—mainly parts of Malaysia, including Singapore—it was the most presentable among East Africa's overseas territories in the South Seas.
Its initial development conditions far surpassed those of the Mindanao colony and Balabac Island. Mindanao had too few plains, and its population was even sparser than that of Lanfang Overseas Province.
Although Mindanao had many indigenous people, the East African government regarded them all as barbarians who refused to submit to royal civilization. East Africa was still carrying out purges and suppression there, and the cost of rule remained stubbornly high.
It could be said that East Africa's rule over Mindanao and the Americans' rule over Luzon Island to the north were a pair of crouching dragons and fledgling phoenixes. Both countries were doing the same thing: suppressing the indigenous peoples of their respective regions.
Moreover, for reasons such as religion, East Africa's cleansing operations on Mindanao were far bloodier than those of the United States. The local indigenous people were far more determined to resist than those in the Philippine colonial regions such as Luzon Island to the north.
Thus, East Africa's cost of ruling Mindanao remained high and would continue to do so for a long time. Naturally, it could not move into the construction phase.
As for Balabac Island, it had only a certain military use for East Africa. The island was small and primarily mountainous, with no value for development.
Therefore, compared with these other two East African overseas territories in the South Seas, Lanfang Overseas Province was currently the most suitable