Opium Wars Article

Who won the Opium Wars?

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Not China. Great Britain won the first Opium War. The opium trade continued, and China had to compensate Great Britain for its losses, give Hong Kong Island to the British, and increase the number of treaty ports where the British could trade and reside. Great Britain and France won the second Opium War. China’s concessions included legalizing the opium trade and providing for the opening of more ports in China, foreign travel in the Chinese interior, residence for Western envoys in Beijing, and freedom of movement for Christian missionaries. China also gave Great Britain the southern portion of the Kowloon Peninsula, adjacent to Hong Kong.