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In 1873, the question of China's overlord over Annam (Vietnam) led to a serious conflict between France and China, which ended in 1883 with a war between these states.
Even the historians rarely recall the details of the hostilities in this little-known war, and it was in it that China first appeared both on land and at sea with armed forces organized according to the European model.
France faced a new challenge.
Its base was Saigon, where there were arsenals and warehouses.
Rear Admiral Courbet, who was appointed chief of the marine station in Tonkin in April 1883, bombarded the outer forts of Hue with his ships from August 18 to August 20, 1883, and eventually occupied them.
According to the agreement concluded shortly afterwards, France acquired a protectorate over Tonkin.
After that, Kurbe, promoted to vice admiral, began a fight with river pirates, or "black flags," which were distinguished by good organization.
Soon, he robbed them of a number of cities - Bak-Ning, Hon-Hoa, Song-Thai.
This was the beginning of the Tonkin expeditions of the French, which cost them many victims and set their work for a long time.
After lengthy negotiations, China, as overlord of Tonkin, took up arms again, and his regular troops defeated the French troops, exhausted by the winter campaign.
At the end of July, the Ministry of Ferry managed to persuade China to make concessions.
He again recognized the Tianjin Treaty of May 11, 1864 establishing the following provisions: France guards the southern borders of China, which removes its troops from there; China recognizes treaties concluded between France and Annam; France promotes new trade agreements between China and Annam.
While Rear Admiral Lespes was holding Chinese ships in the north, Courbet assembled his squadron in the south, intending to put pressure on the Chinese at Fuchau.
All individual units of the French ships located in the East were assembled into one "Squadron of the Far East" under his command.
At the end of July, this squadron gathered at Fuchau in the following composition: 4 armored cruisers (12 guns), 5 cruisers of the 1st rank (15 guns), 7 cruisers of the 2nd and 3rd rank (6-8 guns), 5 gunboats (3-4 guns) and 3 large vehicles (2 guns).
Further reinforcements left France only at the beginning of January 1885 under the command of Rear Admiral Rienier, namely: 1 armored cruiser, 3 cruisers of the 1st rank, 2 gunboats, 2 destroyers and 1 auxiliary cruiser.
Destroyers were transported to the East on the deck of large transports and descended upon arrival in Saigon.
On July 12, 1884, Ferry presented an ultimatum to China following an unexpected Chinese attack by Buckle.
The response period was continued until August 2.
But China did not make concessions.
Then the French decided to occupy the northern ports of Formosa: Keelong and Tamsui.
The French government chose these ports for the following reasons: in the northern ports of Formosa were rich coal mines, giving 1.5 million francs of income.
The fortifications there were weak, there were few troops, on such a secluded island there was almost no need to reckon with the interests and rights of neutral powers.
Courbet immediately left Fucau for Formosa, however, without accurate information about the situation that awaited him.
The order to begin active actions came late.
Because of this, French ships left the northern Chinese flotillas at Chifu and Wuzung, untouched by 9 gunboats with large guns, on their way to the south.
On September 5, Admiral Lespes bombarded with 5 Kilong fortification vessels lying deep in the bay.
The landing party he landed was repelled - he was not able to take the mines that were not far from the landing site.
These actions did not make any impression on the Chinese, so France decided to take more energetic measures.

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