History
2007-08-28
Opium - History conveniently forgotten
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Reading some news regarding the large increase of exports of Opium in the English media today, I find it interesting that they conveniently ignore Britain's involvement in the Opium trade. They only cite a UNODC stat that says it's the largest opium farming production since 19th century China. Now if you didn't know about the history, you would think that the British had nothing to do with this. Ironically it's British troops today that are supposed to curb this activity in Afghanistan today.
"As a result of high demand for tea, silk and porcelain in Britain and the low demand for British commodities in China, Britain had a large trade deficit with China and had to pay for these goods with silver. In an attempt to balance its trade deficit Britain began illegally exporting opium to China from British India in the 18th century."
Feel free to enlighten yourself with details of the two opium wars, and find out why Hong Kong was a British colony for so long.
