1st China War
Summary
| 1st China War | |
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| 1839-42 | |
| Chronological list of Wars and Campaigns | |
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| Location: | |
| Combatants: | |
| East India Company | China |
| Result: | |
| Medals: | |
| Links: | |
| Category: 1st China War | |
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See our interactive map of 1st China War 1839-42 locations and routes on Google Maps | |
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The lucrative trade between China and Britain in the 19th century comprised mainly tea and opium. Opium addiction became such a problem that the Qing Dynasty tried to prevent the import. They closed the waterway up to Canton and seized over 1 million kilograms of opium requiring merchants to enter into a bond not to deal in the drug. There were naval confrontations on the Pearl River and Britain sent an expeditionary force from Singapore. The Bogue Forts at the mouth of the river and subsequently Canton were captured. The Chinese were also defeated at the mouth of the Yangtse River and Shanghai was occupied. The war ended in August 1842 with the Treaty of Nanking which opened five treaty ports to trade, ceded Hong Kong and granted an indemnity to Britain.