Question

Why did european powers race each other to claim land in southeast asia?

Answer 1

The European forces race each other to assert arrive in Southeast Asia since they craved the land for its key area along the ocean courses to China and their wellsprings of tropical agribusiness, minerals, and oil. 
The following are the three thought processes behind the European race for the provinces: 
1. economic  
2. socially/religious 
3. politically/militarily