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The Chinese lost the Opium Wars because the British had superior arms.

^wrong

actually itsChinese weapons were no match for British gunboats.

To be more specific:

(partly taken from a forum)

I. The Chinese did not take the war seriously at all until too little too late

II. The British naval supremacy ensured that they seized the river tax barges - the main source of income to the Imperial Qing treasury

III. British advancements in technology, firepower

IV. Chinese economic unrest and massive debt

The Middle Kingdom had plenty of reserves of men and weapons. It wasn't a matter of just overrunning the British invasion forces - it was the challenge of affording enough to feed and clothe the armies, let along train them now in masses and send them on campaign.

And when the tax boats full of silvers were confiscated by the British, the hope of paying such an army even half it's practical wages was implausible.

Imperial China was arrogant, they didn't see foreigners as much of a threat.

But, for once, China was not one of the most advanced civilizations in the world, like it was for over a millenium. They were badly outgunned, and disunified. This led to their defeat, from the British (and other Europeans) and the Japanese.

Had they had a Meiji period (like Japan did, wisely) there would've been no possible way of succesfully invading China, like it is now.

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