 The move responded to the successes of the British in China in 1842, and France hoped to counterbalance these successes by accessing China from the south.The pretext however was to support British efforts in China, and to fight the persecution of French missionaries in Vietnam.The fleet, accompanied by the diplomat Lagrene, tried to seize the island of Basilan in order to create a base similar to Hong Kong, but projects had to be abandoned following the strong opposition of Spain claiming the island was part of the Philippines.