The main cause of the Opium Wars in China was the British trade of opium, a narcotic derived from poppies, which led to widespread addiction and social issues in Chinese society. In the early 19th century, British merchants began exporting opium from India to China, greatly increasing their trade balance and causing serious harm to the Chinese population. In an effort to curtail opium imports, the Qing Dynasty implemented strict regulations, resulting in escalating tensions. The British, valuing their lucrative trade, responded with military force, leading to the First Opium War (1839-1842) and the Second Opium War (1856-1860), which had profound consequences for China.