Chinese-made silk, tea, porcelain were very popular in the European market. The British people hoped that China can open up trade. However, Qing emperors were sensitive to their outsider status. The British exports of wool, cashmere and other industrial products were not popular in China. The Qian long emperor even believed that China was a vast country with abundant resources, and there is no need to trade with the UK.
On the other hand, the foreign merchants chafed against high port taxes (at 20%), pay-offs to innumerable official.
Besides, in the 18th century, the UK implemented the gold standard monetary policy, while the Qing Dynasty used silver as the currency. Sold by silver but bought by gold made British merchants benefit from the impaired.
Therefore, British merchants therefore smuggled opium to China to balance their interests.Suggested reading: http://www.scmp.com/culture/books/article/2097701/who-caused-opium-war-british-merchants-canton-argues-new-book
Do you now think Britain used opiates as a weapon to defeat China?
Agreed, and it doesn't surprise me that Britain would take advantage of another country in a vulnerable position to this-- especially at this time.
ReplyDeleteIt certainly wouldn't be the first time Great Britain has implemented the strategy of taking advantage/colonizing a country in a vulnerable position. When they first colonized India, the British came in and pitted every Indian province king against each other. Once all out civil war had been waged, and all of the armies were depleted, the British came in and easily conquered India. In both cases, the British used tactics to weaken the country they were planning on defeating, and then came in to conquer them with ease
ReplyDelete