Tang Jingsong played an important role in the Sino-French War and during the period of undeclared hostilities that preceded it.

In the wake of this disaster, Jules Ferry's government committed substantial military and naval forces to Tonkin.

In September 1884 Tang led the Yunnan Army down the Red River from Lào Cai to threaten the French post of Tuyên Quang, and Liu Yongfu took service with him as a subordinate general.

Their troops were excellent, and although they were unable to capture the fortress, defended as it was by a handful of heroes and relieved in the very nick of time by Giovanninelli's brigade, this siege was nonetheless a glorious feat of arms for the Celestials and showed that when necessary they could rise to the occasion.

Upon the outbreak of the First Sino-Japanese War (1894–95) he invited his old friend Liu Yongfu to assume command of Qing forces in southern Taiwan.

When the news of the defeat at Keelung reached Taipei on 4 June, the republican leaders promptly abandoned ship.