The initial trade was only for purposes of opening up China for global trade, and to create vulnerability to exploit and colonise, like neighbour India was colonised for 200 years. Britishers consistently stated the need for “laissez faire” trade for a reason.
The reason why a second opium war happened was that the first one was merely lost, and the 8 Nation Alliance failed to fully colonise. Infact, some ports and provinces of China were given/gifted to European powers during this time, and withdrawn back after the wars.
But they had already discovered it. They both used opium and traded opium well before the British flooded them with it. “it was a normal item of use and trade for centuries before the 1840 war”
The initial trade was only for purposes of opening up China for global trade, and to create vulnerability to exploit and colonise, like neighbour India was colonised for 200 years. Britishers consistently stated the need for “laissez faire” trade for a reason.
The reason why a second opium war happened was that the first one was merely lost, and the 8 Nation Alliance failed to fully colonise. Infact, some ports and provinces of China were given/gifted to European powers during this time, and withdrawn back after the wars.