China was forced to open its ports to trade with the West as a result of the

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The Opium War (1839-1842) was a conflict between China and Great Britain over the trade of opium. China, in an effort to curb opium addiction within its population, had outlawed it and attempted to halt its importation. However, British merchants continued to smuggle opium into China, leading to tensions and eventually military conflict. China's loss in the Opium War forced it to sign the Treaty of Nanjing in 1842, which in addition to ceding Hong Kong to Great Britain, also opened up several Chinese ports for foreign trade and granted extraterritorial rights to British citizens in China.

China Was Forced to Open Its Ports to Trade with the West