What did Britain gain from the Treaty of Nanking?
Britain gained several advantages from the Treaty of Nanking, which was signed in 1842 following the end of the First Opium War between Great Britain and China. The key gains for Britain included:
1. Opening of five treaty ports: The treaty led to the opening of five Chinese ports – Canton (Guangzhou), Amoy (Xiamen), Foochow (Fuzhou), Ningpo (Ningbo), and Shanghai – for British merchants to trade in without the need for Chinese middlemen. This enabled easier access to Chinese markets and allowed Britain to expand its trading activities in China.
2. Hong Kong Island: The Treaty of Nanking ceded the island of Hong Kong to Britain, making it a British colony. This provided Britain with a strategically located base in the region, allowing it to further strengthen its influence and trade links in Asia.
3. Indemnity payment: The Qing Dynasty had to pay an indemnity of 21 million silver taels (equivalent to around 20 million pounds at the time) to Britain to compensate for the losses suffered by British merchants due to the destruction of their opium during the conflict and for the expenses incurred during the war itself.
4. Most-favored-nation status: The treaty granted Britain "most-favored-nation" status, meaning that any trade privileges or concessions that China granted to other countries would also be granted to Britain. This ensured that British merchants would not be disadvantaged compared to their counterparts from other countries in their trade with China.
5. Extraterritoriality rights: British citizens who committed crimes in China would be tried under British, rather than Chinese, laws. This provision, known as "extraterritoriality," effectively placed British nationals in China outside the jurisdiction of Chinese courts.
These gains from the Treaty of Nanking significantly enhanced Britain's trade, diplomatic, and military presence in China and helped to establish the foundations of Britain's prominent role in the region during the 19th and early 20th centuries.