Editing Second Opium War (section)

===Intervention of France===
[[File:Auguste Chapdelaine.jpg|thumb|The execution of the [[Paris Foreign Missions Society]] missionary [[Auguste Chapdelaine]] was the official cause of the French involvement in the Second Opium War.]]

France joined the British action against China, prompted by complaints from their envoy, Baron [[Jean-Baptiste-Louis Gros]], over the execution of a French [[missionary]], [[Auguste Chapdelaine]],<ref name=David>{{cite book|last1=David|first1=Saul|author-link1=Saul David|title=Victoria's Wars: The Rise of Empire|year=2007|publisher=[[Penguin Books]]|location=[[London]]|pages=360–361|isbn=978-0-14-100555-3}}</ref> by Chinese local authorities in [[Guangxi]] province, which at that time was not open to foreigners.{{sfn|Hsü|2000|p=206}}

The British and the French joined forces under Admiral Sir [[Michael Seymour (Royal Navy officer)|Michael Seymour]]. In late 1857, a joint British and French army attacked and occupied Canton (today [[Guangzhou]]). A joint committee of the Alliance was formed. The Allies left the city governor at his post in order to maintain order on behalf of the victors. The British-French alliance maintained control of Canton for nearly four years.{{citation needed|date=September 2015}}

The coalition then cruised north to briefly capture the [[Taku Forts]] near [[Tianjin]] in May 1858.{{citation needed|date=September 2015}}