The eve of opium war 鸦片战争的前夕

In July 1839, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon village Lin Weixi case. Drunkenness in the village, the British sailor killed villagers Lin Weixi The Lin Zexu requirements the British Commercial Director Elliot to hand over the murderer and Elliot was lenient sentence of trouble.

August 15, Lin ordered a ban on all trade, sending troops moved into Macau, further expulsion of the British. Exit. The matter thus become the fuse of the Opium War. October 1, the British Cabinet stuck to business and British people life is threatened grounds, made the decision "to send the fleet to the China Sea", although not entitled to store in the Chinese territory in accordance with Chinese law British opium.

January 5, 1840, Lin Emperor Daoguang decree, announced the lockout, the cut off for ever and British trade. January 8 nest pull the suspect, "the captain announced blockade, since January 15, the Guangzhou Port and the mouth of the Pearl River. January 16, Queen Victoria, in his speech to Congress, that is closely pay attention to the British interests in China and national dignity.

The events that occurred in China, has caused our subjects with the country's trade relations interrupted, I already very serious attention to, and will continue to pay attention to the events that affected our subjects interests with royal dignity.

In February, the British government appointed Yi laws and Elliot as positive / Vice Plenipotentiary, Yi law for the Commander of British Forces.

In April, the British Parliament this heated debate, through military action, under the influence of Queen Victoria, and the final 271 votes to 262 votes, the British government had not yet formally declared war, that military action is only a form of retaliation (reprisal), not war .

In June, the British ships led by Yi law more than 40 ships and 4,000 motorized fleet of the soldiers from India to reach the Chinese sea, marking the first Opium War officially began.

The underlying reasons for British troops, according to the analysis of Lodz Murphy, the opportunity to have free trade with the huge Chinese market, and thus be able to directly enter the Chinese market. And hope that the Qing government to be able to recognize that Britain is equal countries. Non-equality of Foreign Affairs of China due to the traditional world order, five tributary system to heavenly arrogance itself, so that Britain can not tolerate suffered contempt or neglect and marginalization, China's attitude at the time the international community has entered the modern world seem out of tune. The United Kingdom to China rejected as backward, some Westerners have a necessity to resort to force China into the modern world of mission that the benefit of both parties will. It is both arrogant and led to the outbreak of a head-on collision.