"During the Fifties, political and military activities in Vietnam were heavily influenced by the French, who as recent colonial masters, made all-important decisions"

In this quote, Nguyen Cao Ky is talking about the effect of French manifest destiny on Vietnam throughout the 1950s. He keeps in mind that during this time period, both political and military actions in Vietnam were greatly influenced by the French. As the recent colonial masters of Vietnam, the French held significant power and control over the nation. This permitted them to make crucial decisions that significantly impacted the Vietnamese individuals. Using the expression "critical decisions" recommends that the French had a significant function in forming the political and military landscape of Vietnam throughout this time. In general, this quote highlights the long lasting effect of French colonialism on Vietnam and its individuals.