The first Chinese students abroad were mission students who were sent to Europe and America beginning in the 18th century. One of these students, Rong Hong (Yung Wing), who had been educated in the United States of America, provided the impetus for the first official dispatch of young Chinese to the USA in 1872. In 1881, however, the 120 students who were sent to the USA were recalled early because in the opinion of the Chinese government they had insufficient knowledge of Chinese customs. Similar education enterprises in Europe (i…