OPIUM WARS

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Two Opium Wars (1840-2 and 1858):----- In the 19th century, China had a weak government in form of Manchu dynasty. Britain had become a major trade partner but it had a huge trade deficit as China was self sufficient and imported little from the West. The British were facing the burden of this trade deficit as the Chinese accepted only precious metals like Gold as payment for exports to Britain (especially Tea and Silk).
Opium War
As a solution to this problem, the British started exchanging Opium as payment. This was opposed by China and resulted in Opium Wars in 1840-2 and 1858. After the first Opium war, British took over Hong Kong and extracted trade concessions from China. They also established British sovereignty over the trading centers. China was coerced into giving up the opposition to trade with the West. Major ports of China were opened to British trade and residence. Free trade was imposed on China.
This meant that British could trade with any Chinese trader and custom duties were reduced. Also, a British diplomat was permanently stationed in China. British citizens in China could only be prosecuted under the British law. Between the two Opium wars, other European nations and USA also signed trade agreements with China but the former desired more favorable treaties, which led to the second Opium war. After the second Opium War, the trade treaties were revised. Even more Chinese ports were opened for trade.
The European ships got rights of transit in Chinese rivers and Europeans could freely travel across China. China was made to guarantee security of life of Missionaries and the latter were given right to establish Churches anywhere in China. Ironically along with all this religiosity import into China, the Opium trade was also legalized. After the second Opium War, many more European nations, some South American nations and Japan established trade relations with China. Thus, China was opened up with different imperialist powers gradually establishing their Spheres of Influences in China.

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