The mainland states of Southeast Asia had better success in resisting European encroachment than did ...

The mainland states of Southeast Asia had better success in resisting European encroachment than did the Spice Islands and Malay states because
 
  A) they lacked any natural resources desired by the Europeans, who had no wish to trade with them.
  B) they were more cohesive politically with strong monarchies.
  C) the Europeans were not aware of their existence.
  D) they were Christians, and the Europeans never attacked fellow Christians.
  E) they were allied to China, which gave them military support against the Europeans.