In what way did the ‘Go-East Movement’ motivate the students?
In the first decade of the 20th century, the ‘Go-East Movement’ became popular in Vietnam. In 1907-08, some 300 Vietnamese students went to Japan to acquire modern education.
Their primary objective was to drive out the French from Vietnam, overthrow the puppet emperor and re-establish the Nguyen dynasty that had been deposed by the French. Since, Japan had resisted colonisation by European power and had a victory over Russia in 1907, the Vietnamese got inspiration from them.
The Vietnamese students established a branch of the Restoration Society in Tokyo. But after 1908, the Japanese Ministry of Interior, clamped down the movement. Many, including nationalist Phan Boi Chau were deported and forced to seek exile in China and Thailand.