> Which is to say that while it didn’t change its name to the United States until it had decided to exit the Empire ...

Hence my explicit use of United States, as it came to be after the colonies were no longer. Virtually all of the people who remained were previously British subjects, of course.

But designations before a nation exists are moot for those whom subsequently are a part of said nation.

Regarding the Opium Wars, I detailed in a peer comment my understanding of US involvement and responsibility. Even if one were to posit the US is equally responsible for supplying opium to China as the British Empire was, a position I disagree with, it would still fail to negate my original premise:

Two wrongs do not make a right.