Reasons for intense conflict among the European trading companies:

1. Competition for resources:
The European trading companies, such as the British East India Company, the Dutch East India Company, and the French East India Company, were all vying for control over valuable resources in Asia. These resources included spices, silk, indigo, tea, and other commodities that were in high demand in Europe. The competition for these resources led to intense conflicts among the trading companies as they sought to establish monopolies and gain control over trade routes.

2. Economic rivalry:
The trading companies were motivated by profit and sought to maximize their economic gains. They engaged in intense competition with each other to secure the most profitable trading opportunities and establish dominance in various regions. This economic rivalry often resulted in clashes and conflicts between the trading companies.

3. Political ambitions:
The European trading companies not only had economic interests but also had political ambitions. They sought to expand their territories and establish colonial control over different parts of Asia. This led to conflicts among the trading companies as they competed for territorial dominance and political influence.

4. Clash of cultures:
The European trading companies brought with them their own cultural and religious beliefs, which often clashed with the local cultures and traditions of the regions they sought to control. These cultural clashes resulted in tensions and conflicts between the trading companies and the local populations.

5. Violent methods of control:
The European trading companies used violent methods to establish and maintain control over their trading posts and territories. This included military expeditions, fortifications, and armed conflicts with rival trading companies and local rulers. These violent methods of control further escalated the conflicts among the trading companies.

6. National rivalries:
The trading companies were often backed by their respective European nations, which led to national rivalries being played out in the form of conflicts among the trading companies. The European nations supported their trading companies financially and militarily, fueling the conflicts and intensifying the competition.

In conclusion, the intense conflicts among the European trading companies were primarily driven by competition for resources, economic rivalry, political ambitions, clash of cultures, violent methods of control, and national rivalries. These factors led to a complex web of conflicts and rivalries that shaped the history of European colonialism in Asia.