Following its defeat by Germany in the Franco-Prussian War, France wanted to acquire colonies to exploit them economically. France expanded its influence into Africa (Tunis, Madagascar, and the Niger and Congo regions) and Southeast Asia. In October 1887, French Indochina was formed as a federation of Annam, Tonkin, Cochinchina (these three regions form modern-day Vietnam), and Cambodia. Laos was added six years later as a result of the Franco-Siamese War. Local rulers were left in power but were nothing more than figureheads. Which of the following statements is true regarding French colonialism in Southeast Asia in the late 19th century?