Liu Sai's Interview

Sai Liu: Could you tell me when you began to find out about the Opium War (1840-1842)? What do you know about it?

Mr. Liu: I knew from textbooks when being in middle school. I understood some from the Internet after working sometime later.

Sai Liu: Someone thinks Lin Zexu is the root cause of the Opium War (1840-1842), without the burning of opium socks in Hu Men beach, there would not be an Opium War (1840-1842). What views do you have about this statement?

Mr. Liu: I do not agree with this view. Lin Zexu’s “actions that ban opium-smoking and the opium trade”, from the opium to the people’s extent of injury, and the infringement of China’s economy at that time. Helping the national benefit of the country and its overall wellness. Its independence and sovereignty as a nation would be at stake. Lin Zexu’s “action that bans on opium-smoking and the opium trade” is undoubtedly a patriotic action. Britain has plotted for a long time, but lacks only one war excuse, that is the burning of opium stocks in Hu Men beach. Sooner of later I feel the war will take place.

Sai Liu: What is your opinion of Lin Zexu?

Mr. Liu: Lin Zexu is known in China and foreign countries by his force in “burning of opium stocks in Hu Men beach”. He is a national hero. It is part of the modern history of China. Lin Zexu is a politician who gets most praising form the Chinese people. He wanted to start to learn more about the western “Advanced Technology”. After national liberation, Mao Zedong who founded the state, praised the spirit of Lin Zexu. In China’s modern history, Lin Zexu “is the first person to open himself and his people to the world!”

Sai Liu: The treaty of Nanjing has separated the Hong Kong Island form China. Has giving the Hong Kong Island to Britain been a benefit or fraud in your opinion?

Mr. Liu: I think, form the economy, it should be that the benefit is a little larger. Under Britain’s management, Hong Kong develops into an international metropolis. This is favorable to the development of China’s economy; However, form international repercussions, it is a shame that China has to give the Hong Kong Island to Britain. It shows the weakness of Qing Government. This stimulates other countries to dismember the territory of China. As a whole, the fraud seems much greater than the benefits.

Sai Liu: What kind of influence did the treaty of Nanjing and other unequal treaties produce in China’s history in your opinion?

Mr. Liu: On one hand, because of the failure of the Opium War (1840-1842) China must sign a series of unequal treaties, such as the treaty of Nanjing, that make Chinese society change its own fundamentals. China was independent before the war, but its sovereignty afterwards was destroyed. China’s self-sufficient natural economy disintegrates and becomes the commodity market of capitalism in the world. Raw materials and supply go down gradually and China begins to become a semi-colonial and semi-feudal society. On the other hand, they have opened China to corruption and lagged behind a closed gate by force in the Opium War (1840-1842). They have promoted the development of China’s foreign trade at that time, along with the development of Chinese commerce. China was then brought in the advanced modern civilization and technology of Europe during the same time.

Sai Liu: During the war, did China get any help from other countries? And why?

Mr Liu: Because Britain had a very strong army at that time, and all other countries did not dare try to prevent Britain from its goal. There was not a country that could prevent Britain either.

Sai Liu: After the war began, how were the attitudes of the government and the people? Did they resist firmly or surrender easily?

Mr. Liu: After the war began, even though most common people thought it would be best to surrender to compromise, people organized partly to resist. During the Opium War (1840-1842), the masses of people were positive that the twelve Earthly Branches would hold and cooperate with the Qing army to fight together against Britain. They kept struggling against Britain. The “Black Water Party” was organized by the people in Zhe jiang to strike Great Britain’s army relentlessly. The famous resist against Great Britain, “San Yuan Li”, was a portrayal of the spirit from the people of China.

Sai Liu: Do you think China lost the war only because the weaponry was not as good as Britain’s?

Mr. Liu: I do not think so. Certainly, we can’t deny the power of the weaponry, but the weaponry is not the main reason why Britain won. I think, the main reason is that the emperor Dao Guang did not resist firmly enough at that time. If he could have organized the people to resist on a larger scale at that time, the victory would belong to China.

Sai Liu: How long did the war last?

Mr. Liu: More than two years.

Sai Liu: Why so short?

Mr. Liu: Maybe because Britain got what they were looking for. It is essential to move on as a country. The Qing Government thought the proposal which Britain put forth could be accepted. Therefore, both sides signed the contract and announced that they would stop fighting.

Sai Liu: What was Britain looking for? Please explain.

Mr. Liu: Pay an indemnity, cede territory, open the trading port etc.

Sai Liu: Could this war have been avoided?

Mr. Liu: According to the situation at that time, China was originally apt to become the target invaded. Britain was in the period for foreign aggression and expansion. It needed the producing area of raw materials and a commodity market. So, I think, unless China was strong enough that nobody could beat it, the war would have been unavoidable.

Sai Liu: Thank you.

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