Throughout the colonial history of Southeast Asia through today, what role have natural resources played in drawing interest from foreign countries to this area?

There's two things that could be said about this era. First of all the silk road. Using silk for clothing, the Europeans loved this. This began multiple trade routes into Asia. Another thing that comes into mind would be opium. The drug opium made people get crazy fun highs. This grow industry and foreign countries wanted this. Or i could be wrong i mean within SE Asia there's oil but i don't think in colonial times that was very much needed.