Complex sentence: On the other hand, they tried to facilitate missionary activity in line with their evangelical Christian views, and in opposition to the East India Company's wishes, which in general were "orientalist" in respecting local laws, customs and religions.
Split into simpler sentences: On the other hand, they tried to facilitate missionary activity in line with their evangelical Christian views. Christian missionary activity, at this period, opposed the East India Company's wishes, which in general and by tradition were "orientalist": based on respecting local laws, customs and religions.