[The Treaty of Nanking, 29.08.1822] required the British and Chinese governments to henceforth deal with each other on a ‘ footing of equality ’, through direct exchanges between their appointed representatives... As so often when Westerners use words like ‘ equality ’, this clause was clearly intended to mean exactly the opposite of what it said : that it would be the British who would now dictate the terms of the relationship.

Amitav Ghosh: Flood of Fire: Ibis Trilogy Book 3 (English Edition)