The Chinese students accused of kidnapping and torturing a peer stand trial at the Pomona Superior Court in Pomona, California, on June 3, 2015. [Photo/uschinapress.com]

ZHANG XINLEI was sentenced to six years in prison for his role in brutal gang attacks against two fellow Chinese teenagers in south California, the United States on Feb 17. In an interview with local media after the sentence, Zhang Fan, the father of the 19-year-old, showed his ignorance of some fundamental issues just like his son. Qianjiang Evening News said on Monday:

Zhang Fan, the father, has a low standard of moral values in his ambiguous understanding of China's law and reluctant recognition of US law. Besides, he seems very ignorant of the education environment in which his son studied.

Studying abroad is becoming more and more popular among younger Chinese students. But a large number of Chinese parents are not equipped with the necessary knowledge about the schools, the study environment and even unaware if their own children are appropriate to study overseas.

Zhang Fan admitted that he didn't think much about sending his son abroad. The thing he did most, whether before or after his son was caught, was giving out money to try and get his son off the hook. This attitude shown by some wealthy parents naturally passes on to their kids studying abroad.

Before going to any foreign country to study, both children and parents should learn the local laws. That's one lesson Zhang Fan should have learned from the case. Besides, respecting others and not bullying others are the basic moral values which should be obvious. If Zhang Xinlei had learned from his parents how to respect others, the tragedy wouldn't have happened.