The wave of Javanese expansion again became increasingly tense when Kertanegara came into power in 1268 as the king of Singasari (East Java). By continuing the Javanese political tradition of anti-Sino domination, he tried to widen his influence by establishing political and military alliance among Malay powers. He realized that China was the giant power that should be faced together. He wanted to establish Singasari as a new power in the Malay archipelago (including the Malay world and the Javanese world). He replaced all officials who were not in line with his ambitions. The Srivijaya kingdom which was traditionally in a good relationship with China
was forced to be the alliance of Kertanegara by means of the Pamalayu Expedition in 1273. It seems that Kertanegara tried to unite the Javanese and Malay worlds for facing China.