Why did David Livingstone originally plan to become a medical missionary in China?

David Livingstone’s initial plan to become a medical missionary in China was prompted by a formal appeal issued by British and American churches in 1834 for qualified individuals to serve in that region.1

Motivated by this call, Livingstone dedicated himself to the necessary preparations, studying medicine, Greek, and theology in Glasgow while continuing to work in a cotton mill. Although he was accepted by the London Missionary Society in 1838, his goal of serving in China was ultimately thwarted by the outbreak of the first Opium War. Following this shift in circumstances, a meeting with the missionary Robert Moffat redirected his focus toward Southern Africa.1