Introduction
The Opium Wars were historic phenomena highlighting notions such as colonialism, free trade, and national decline as a result of foreign involvement in internal affairs. The conflict between China and Britain was seemingly associated with the importation of the drug opium. However, despite its appearance, the nature of the war and its outcome generated a deeper understanding of the power dynamics between colonialism and the territories affected by it.
The current paper is an exemplification of how the Opium War has benefited trade and international relations while hindering Chinese political potency and stability. Furthermore, the fact that the British were aware of the addicting nature of opium yet chose to profit from it will be covered, as well as the cause of the conflict, which is the desire to expand trade and influence in the East.
Background
The British India was the main supplier of opium in China. As a result of its increased demands at the beginning of the 19th century, drug use became a concern just as its profitability became more substantial (Murphey, 2008). It is essential to note that the primary use of the substance was for its supposed medicinal properties. However, its addictive nature generated a major problem in China as a large percentage of the population started using it for recreational purposes.
Needless to say, at the start of the trade, opium was, indeed, a medicine imported either for its pain-releasing properties or as a recreational substance for individuals with a higher socio-economic status. However, by the 1810s and 1820s, the opium epidemic had affected multiple households as specialized facilities were established where individuals could smoke the drug (García-Marcano, 2021). It is unlikely that the British were unaware of the addicting nature of the substance. Instead, it can be stated that its high demand was artificially generated to facilitate an excuse to spread British colonial power in China after military conflicts.
Opium was one of the only goods the West could export to China due to the lack of demand for other products. Moreover, the traders were aware of the health and social risks correlating with widespread opium use, which is why it was approached through unauthorized parties (U.S. Department of State). The opium obtained in British India was sold to merchants who would later sell it through middlemen all throughout China (Murphey, 2008). It is unlikely that the traders were not aware of the effect, and the more probable explanation was that such actions were designed to open new trading channels in the previously closed-off China. Hence, the British were more concerned with their economic and political gains rather than the well-being of the Chinese nation.
Opium War Causes
Due to the high demand for opium, which grew as the population became more addicted, the Chinese authorities aimed to stop the trade. The solution was to dispose of the opium despite it being the property of the British. Nonetheless, it was illegally imported, making it legal to destroy the goods (Murphey, 2008). However, opium was one of the main sources of profit for British India, and the sellers were not ready to give up on such a profitable market. As a result, a war started in which the British voiced the desire to have free trading opportunities in China.
Due to the lack of military and technological advances, China was faced with the necessity of allowing its opposing parties to engage in trading activities in the national territories. Hence, the cause for the war was not necessarily the opium but the opportunities the West saw in regard to importing and exporting goods from China. The driving factor was both economic and political, as China was perceived as a potentially profitable ally and a territory that would generate political benefits for the West in case it was colonized or impacted to an extent.
Long-Term Consequences
It is challenging to determine the long-term consequences of the opium wars on China and Britain due to the dynamics of the 19th and 20th centuries in which a variety of changes have occurred. Nonetheless, specific outcomes can be emphasized in relation to the conflict. China ended up having to admit defeat, and Britain did gain power over ports and Hong Kong. Researchers highlight that Western influences surpassed the ports and spread all over China (Keller & Shiue, 2021). Both parties have faced beneficial economic changes. The West had more opportunities to trade by importing and exporting goods, while China partly benefited from an influx of financial resources.
One of the main beneficial consequences was the establishment of agreements and treaties between two major economic agents in the global arena. Additionally, a more open environment was achieved due to the war, which has facilitated technological transfers as China was less advanced from this perspective (Keller & Shiue, 2021). Such changes have led to further industrialization and increased production.
Despite the several benefits that have been the outcomes of the Opium Wars, it is essential to acknowledge the negative long-term implications of the phenomenon. For example, researchers highlight that China’s industrialization, in combination with its political segmentation and instability, has generated a low-growth trap lasting for almost a century until the middle of the 20th century (Cerqueira & Albuquerque, 2020). Due to the British involvement in China’s internal affairs, the various markets and departments were not unionized and operated separately. This facilitates a lack of organic growth, which is why the country has faced major drawbacks despite its potential.
Another negative long-term outcome was the political changes. The national political arena has become less secure as cooperation with the West as a result of losing in the Opium War has established an environment in which people were often protesting (Cerqueira & Albuquerque, 2020). Public dissatisfaction was one of the reasons why the Qing state experienced a minimization in its territorial capacity.
Conclusion
The Opium Wars were military conflicts centered around colonialism, power, and trade. Despite opium being at the forefront of the phenomenon, the motives exceeded the initial motivation. Based on the analysis, the West was aware of the addicting nature of opium and chose to trade it in China with the purpose of opening trade channels with the relatively closed-off country. Hence, the British desire to gain political and economic power in the East facilitated the wars.
The long-term consequences for both parties include both positive and negative contexts. The positive perspective includes economic growth, technological advancements, and the establishment of more trade opportunities. At the same time, China’s independence and political system suffered, and the consequence was a lack of organic growth and a segmented nation. Needless to say, the devastating consequences of opium addiction, which was widely shared, have also lasted for generations. The analysis exemplifies that the Opium Wars were the result of colonialism rather than the drug itself and has facilitated a variety of long-term changes in the history of the West and the East.
References
Cerqueira, H. E., & Albuquerque, E. da. (2020). China and the first impact of the Industrial Revolution: Initial conditions and a falling-behind trajectory until 1949. Nova Economia, 30(spe), 1169–1198. Web.
García-Marcano, E.-S. (2021). The Nineteenth-Century Anglo-Indian Opium Trade to China and its Lasting Legacy. Revista Mundo Asia Pacífico, 10(19), 98–108.
Keller, W., & Shiue, C. H. (2021). The economic consequences of the Opium War. NBER. Web.
Murphey, R. (2008). A History of Asia (6th ed.). Longman.
U.S. Department of State. (n.d.). The opening to China Part I: The first opium war, the United States, and the Treaty of Wangxia, 1839–1844. Web.