The Sino-French War (1884–1885) had significant implications for Southeast Asia, particularly in how it reshaped regional power dynamics and colonial influences. The conflict primarily involved China and France fighting over control and influence in Vietnam, which was under the nominal control of China’s Qing Dynasty but increasingly becoming a target for French colonial ambitions.

Here are some key aspects of how the Sino-French War affected Southeast Asia:

1. Impact on Vietnam: Before the war, Vietnam was a tributary state of the Qing Dynasty, and China held a degree of influence over its politics. However, with the French expansion into Indochina (Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia), tensions rose between China and France over control of the region. The war ended with the Treaty of Tientsin (1885), in which China recognized French control over Vietnam, effectively ending Chinese suzerainty. This marked the beginning of Vietnam’s full incorporation into French Indochina, which lasted until the mid-20th century.

2. Shift in Regional Power: The war marked a decline in China’s influence in Southeast Asia. It highlighted the weakening of the Qing Dynasty and the limits of Chinese military power, especially in dealing with Western colonial forces. This was a precursor to further Chinese losses to Western powers and Japan in later conflicts…