Arrow Incident and outbreak of the Second Opium War

Background. The Second Opium War, also known as the Arrow War, was fought between the United Kingdom and France against the Qing dynasty from 1856 to 1860. The conflict arose from the failure of previous treaties to satisfy British goals for improved trade and diplomatic relations. Tensions escalated in Canton, where Qing officials resisted British influence, setting the stage for the immediate hostilities following the seizure of the Arrow.

The Arrow Incident. On 8 October 1856, Chinese marines in Canton seized the cargo ship Arrow on suspicion of piracy. The vessel was registered in Hong Kong but claimed to be flying a British flag, a claim disputed by witnesses. Twelve of the fourteen Chinese crew members were arrested. This seizure by Qing officials, led by Ye Mingchen, became the catalyst for the war.

Outbreak of Hostilities. Following the incident, the British government faced parliamentary scrutiny, losing a vote in March 1857 regarding the events at Canton. Despite delays caused by the Indian Rebellion, British forces followed up on the incident by attacking Guangzhou from the Pearl River. In late 1857, a joint British and French army successfully attacked and occupied Canton, marking the escalation of the conflict.