Complex sentence: The emphasis on territory and sphere of influence is consistent with former EIC policies in India and elsewhere, but even as the four-years long negotiations went on, the existence of Singapore strongly started to favor the new independent merchants and their houses.
Split into simpler sentences: The emphasis on territory and sphere of influence is consistent with former EIC policies in India and elsewhere. As the four-years long negotiations went on, the existence of Singapore strongly started to favor the new independent merchants and their houses.