opium-wars

How R:hong-kong began.

Tags :: R:china

• In the 18th century China, foreign trade was limited to Canton (modern day Guangzhou) and foreigners were confined to specific towns outside the Canton region called “Hongs”

• British trade was run by East India Company, while Chinese side was operated by the Hongs

• 1820 - Opium Import

  • China was willing to provide tea and other luxury goods but had made it clear that they will only accept silver as payment
  • British had to import silver from Europe or Mexico, which was expensive and would result in a trade deficit
  • They find a solution in the narcotic Opium, grown in India. Over the next few years, there is an uptick in Opium imported by China
  • This is no good, as China has banned Opium for recreational use for at least the last 100 years

• April 1839 - 20,000 burnt Opium chests

  • Emperor Daogang sends Lin Zexu to Canton
  • Lin asks British to surrender the Opium and sign an agreement to stop trading the drug
  • British superintendent Charles Elliot agrees and promises local merchants of compensation
  • In return, he asks for trade access all along China’s eastern coast and threatens to halt trade until then
  • Some merchants that don’t deal in Opium sign this deal

• July 1839 - Kowloon

  • Some American and British soldiers get drunk and kill a man in kowloon
  • Lin demands that they be tried by Chinese courts, but Elliot refuses and gives them a prison sentence that is never met
  • This increases tensions betwee the forces

• 1839 - First shots - First battle of Chuenepee

  • One British ship ignores the ban
  • Elliot tries to blockade the Pearl River (restricting all trade), and attacks a second violating ship
  • This second ship, however, isn’t trading in opium and is hence protected by the Chinese navy
  • This conflict kicks off the first Opium war
  • Chinese suffer many losses.

• April 1840 - Motion for War passed

  • British govt passes motion for war against China. It’s funded by the government
  • Demands China to open its eastern coast for trade

• Summer 1840 - Occupation of Zhoushan and early talks of Hong Kong cessation

  • British forces team up with Elliot and occupy Zhoushan
  • Lin has fallen from the emperor’s favor at this point

• January 1841 - Negotiations

  • Second battle of Chuenepee happens in Jan 1841.
  • Lin Zexu has been replaced by Commissioner Qishan, who is more eager to negotiate
  • Elliot asks for 7mil dollars over the next 6 years and access to several inland ports
  • Upon negotiaion, they agree Treaty of Chaunbi - which cedes Hong Kong and offers to pay 6mil dollars to the British
  • However, both govts reject the offer and there is more fighting

• Summer 1842 - Treaty of Nanking

  • British forces beat Chinese all the way up to Yangtze and occupy Shanghai
  • The Chinese are forced to surrender and treaty of Nanking is signed
  • 5 ports are opened - Canton, Ziamen, Fuzhou, Ningbo and Shanghai
  • Hong Kong is ceded to the British