However, cheering on the military is historically a dangerous practice. During the reign of Queen Victoria, the British Empire was once united around the need for Freedom of Navigation to advance its economic diplomacy against China in the two Opium Wars. The US and France joined Britain in the second round in the Opium Wars (1856-60)
. Britain once had a balance of payments problem with China during the Days of Empire. It authorized the export of opium to China to address this imbalance.
Imperial China rejected Britain’s efforts against China in the two Opium Wars.
olddogthoughts 