Opium War

Author: (American) Travis Hines III
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-08-01
Features: Don't say we didn't warn you in time. Upon receiving this letter, Her Majesty the Queen must immediately report to me what measures you have taken in all the ports. — Lin Zexu's letter to the British Queen on the issue of banning opium.
These Chinese people willingly buy what others willingly sell. If I propose increasing the naval budget, adding a few cruisers to uphold the moral standards of the Chinese people, what would the House of Commons say? — British Prime Minister Palmerston's speech in the House of Commons.
This war is fundamentally unjust and will bring eternal disgrace to this nation, a disgrace I have never known and never heard of. Our flag has become the banner of pirates, protecting the shameful opium trade. I fear that because of England's countless atrocities against China, God will punish England. — British opposition MP William Gladstone.
This is the most contemptible war pretext ever. I must say that the language of Chinese officials is throughout patient, polite, and gentlemanly; while the language of British officials is, without exception, threatening, shameful, and arrogant. — The leader of the opposition in the House of Lords, Earl of Derby, on the "Arrow Incident."
We won twice, but we only won once. You twice violated the (Daguan) fortifications, how can you be satisfied? It is time for foreigners to learn to respect us. — Prince Gongrenqin to the prisoner, Sir Harry Parkes.
I am willing to take off my hat, bow deeply to welcome His Majesty the Emperor; to stand rather than sit; to speak only when questioned; to walk backward, still not turning around — on the issue of kneeling, U.S. Ambassador Walter Medhurst wrote to the Chinese court to declare war on China. — The Times.
This book, with rich historical materials and dramatic language, records the two wars of vastly unequal strength between the East and the West, namely the Opium Wars of 1829-1842 and 1856-1860, which can also be called one of the most significant clashes in the history of the East and the West. Great Britain, the most powerful empire of the 19th century, launched both a diplomatic, political, and economic war against a proud, closed, and conservative nation with an equally proud and noble ancient civilization, all for a naked purpose — China's tea and silk. The cause of this war, rooted in the opium trade, which caused fierce debate among the warring parties, was a crime.
The author's brilliant narration once again confirms the famous definition of war by the Prussian military theorist Carl von Clausewitz: "War is another form of diplomacy." Through the author's extensive references to historical materials, especially English sources, we also see behind these two wars another war of politics and morality fought by their participants. As the author of this book says, this war is "a dramatic portrayal of the chariot of power and corruption, the frailty, greed, and stupidity of human nature."