Were British Conflicts with China More About Trade or More

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The Answer is The conflicts between Britain and China were more about trade than about British power. The main issue that sparked these conflicts was the British desire for access to Chinese markets for their goods, particularly opium. The British were eager to establish a profitable trade relationship with China, and the Chinese government's strict regulations and restrictions on foreign trade posed a significant obstacle to their economic interests.

The Opium Wars, for example, were fought primarily over the British desire to continue trading opium in China, despite the Chinese government's efforts to ban the drug. This conflict was driven by the economic interests of the British East India Company and other British traders, rather than a desire to exert direct control or dominance over China.

While British power certainly played a role in these conflicts, such as in the use of military force to secure trade concessions, the primary motivation was economic gain rather than a desire to assert British dominance over China. In fact, the British government was initially hesitant to engage in military conflict with China, preferring to resolve trade disputes through diplomacy.

Overall, the conflicts between Britain and China were more about trade, as the British sought to expand their economic influence and access to Chinese markets, rather than about asserting British power over China.

Were British Conflicts with China More About Trade or More

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