THE OPIUM WARS AND THEIR IMPACT ON CHINA’S INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Abstract

This article analyzes how the Opium Wars (1839-1842 and 1856-1860) shaped China's foreign policy, focusing on the impacts of the national humiliation known as the "Century of Humiliation." The objective is to demonstrate China's process of transformation and rise as a major international actor, thereby aiding in the understanding of the country and its foreign policy. This article employs a qualitative approach based on a bibliographic and documentary survey, utilizing secondary sources such as Henry Kissinger's book On China, and primary sources such as the texts of the Treaties of Nanjing and Tianjin. It is concluded, therefore, that the study of the "Century of Humiliation" is highly relevant for understanding the Chinese state