4/6 🧵 The second Opium War (1856–1860), also called the Arrow War, was even more openly imperial. Britain and France used a series of incidents as pretexts to demand wider access to Chinese markets and greater diplomatic privileges. One trigger was the Arrow incident, in which British authorities claimed Chinese officials had improperly boarded a ship connected to British interests. France joined in, citing the killing of a French missionary. The real agenda was expansion of foreign rights in China. Once again, the Western powers relied on superior military technology, including advanced rifles, artillery, and naval power. They attacked key coastal areas, captured Canton, and later forced their way toward Tianjin and Beijing. In 1860, Anglo-French forces occupied Beijing and looted and burned the Old Summer Palace, a deeply symbolic act of destruction.