France's Motives for Colonizing Laos and Vietnam

Economic Motives

• Resources: rubber, tin, rice, coal.
• Markets for French goods.

Geostrategic and Political Motives

• Colonial expansion and national prestige.
• Buffer zone against Qing China.
• Gateway to Chinese markets.

Mission Civilisatrice

Belief in a duty to spread French language, culture, and political systems.