Chitchat do they look like they need opium before 1800s

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2016-08/10/content_26417927_2.htm

Even as Britain promoted opium in China, she passed several laws forbidding its use in England. Western medical experts supported such dual standards by arguing that for Chinese, opium was “a harmless social family luxury,” on a par with tea. The Deputy-Surgeon-General of Bombay would later claim that Chinese find in opium “a source of enjoyment, of comfort, of necessity, and of even a blessing.” He added, “Opium is especially suited to the Chinese constitution, habits, and to the small pecuniary means of the masses.”


Fuck the British bastards.

There are only two reasons why different laws are passed for different parties. One, to level the playing field, or two, to cause an uneven playing playing field, depending on which side one stands with. Let's face it, those with the negotiating ability will play the rules to their favour. That's the way thing work in the real world. Britain was the ruling world power at that time of the Opium Wars, and the treaties she signed with China favoured her. It was up to the Chinese to garner whatever they could. Apparently, they weren't up to that level to negotiate at the table, and were even lousier at the game of warfare. It will take them a good century to bolster up their armies, and navies to match the rest of the world.

Cheers!