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Suppose at some point during his reign, Napoleon III had decided he wanted China to become a colony of France just as India had become a colony of Britain.* China was going through a low period at the time, and France was second only to Britain as an international Great Power. Still, China is a big nation, with a lot of people, and a stronger history of unity than India had, so conquering it wouldn't be a stroll in the park for anyone. But assuming he focuses as much of his resources as he can afford on the project, is it possible for France to conquer China during the reign of Napoleon III, or at least at some point in the pre-WWI era? (The Second Empire can be extended if need be. Perhaps the Franco-Prussian War is avoided?)

*I had initially thought he might be inspired by Queen Victoria's having been named Empress of India and deciding he wanted to be Emperor of China. But a little preliminary research for the question reveals he was already dead by the time she gained that title, so that would have been too late for a POD.
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