The Opium Wars were fought between China and which country?

The Opium Wars were primarily conflicts between China and Great Britain in the mid-19th century. The First Opium War (1839-1842) was triggered by disputes over British trade, particularly the opium trade, which had significant social and economic impacts in China. British merchants were exporting opium from India to China, leading to widespread addiction and social issues. When the Qing Dynasty attempted to halt the opium trade, tensions escalated into military conflict.

The resulting treaties, notably the Treaty of Nanking, not only ended the First Opium War but also significantly altered China's trade relations and territorial integrity, ceding Hong Kong to Great Britain and establishing several ports for British trade access. The Second Opium War (1856-1860) further expanded British influence in China and included other Western powers, but Great Britain remained the principal actor against China throughout these conflicts. This historical context highlights the direct conflict between Great Britain and China during the Opium Wars, making it the correct answer.