The result of the Opium Wars on China’s sovereignty was severe territorial and economic concessions to foreign powers, especially Britain. Following the First Opium War (1839-1842), China was forced to sign the Treaty of Nanking, ceding Hong Kong and opening several ports to British trade. This undermined China's sovereign authority and marked a shift in its engagement with Western nations. The subsequent Second Opium War further exacerbated these issues, leading to additional treaties that granted foreign powers extraterritorial rights and increased influence over Chinese affairs, resulting in a significant loss of control over its domestic and international policies.