The First Opium War (1839–1842) was a major conflict between the Qing Empire of China and Great Britain. It marked the beginning of a new phase in East Asian history, as it exposed the military weakness of Qing China and led to the expansion of Western imperial influence. The war was rooted in economic, political, and diplomatic disputes, especially concerning the British opium trade and China's efforts to suppress it. During the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, Britain had a growing demand for Chinese tea, silk, and porcelain. However, China accepted payment largely in silver, creating a trade imbalance unfavorable to Britain. To offset this deficit, British merchants, particularly through the East India Company, exported opium cultivated in India to China. The illegal opium trade expanded rapidly, causing widespread addiction, social disorder, and a significant outflow of silver from China. The Qing government viewed the opium trade as a serious threat to its economy and society. In 1839, Emperor Daoguang appointed Commissioner Lin Zexu to eradicate the opium trade in Canton (Guangzhou). Lin adopted strict measures, confiscating and destroying over 20,000 chests of opium belonging to British merchants. He also demanded that foreign traders pledge never to deal in opium again. Britain considered these actions an attack on private property and commercial rights, using them as a justification for