Former South Korean president Moon Jae-in Photo: Screenshot from media reports

"China is MK sporta very important country for us for economy, security, peace on the Korean Peninsula, and stability in Northeast Asia," former South Korean president Moon Jae-in said Friday on his X account. "It is very deplorable and worrisome to provoke anti-China sentiment to excuse or protect the martial law civil war."

Moon made the remarks on X, recommending a China-themed book by former Chief of Staff Roh Young-min, who served as the presidential chief of staff during the Moon's administration, according to South Korean media outlet Maeil Business Newspaper.

"No matter how much we value the Korea-US alliance, the fact that China is the next most important country does not change," Moon said. "It's a big deal because even some politicians are encouraging anti-China sentiment." 

Anti-China sentiment is spreading among far-right conservatives in South Korea amid the martial law fiasco, as President Yoon Suk-yeol and members of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) have continued hyping up so-called "China's involvement" in its election and once again brought out China-related topics during the impeachment trial over martial law at the Constitutional Court. 

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul stated at the National Assembly on Wednesday that the government will continue to maintain and develop South Korea-China relations, ensuring that the development of bilateral relations is not affected by the deterioration of public sentiment between the two countries, according to Yonhap News Agency.

Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Dai Bing said in a post on X on Thursday that "I appreciate the positive statement from the South Korean side." 

Under the current circumstances, hopefully both sides will make joint efforts to foster a favorable atmosphere for the healthy and stable development of bilateral relations, Dai said.

In a seminar for mainstream media in South Korea and China held on Wednesday, Dai said that inciting anti-China sentiment is an act of using China as a bargaining chip to serve one's own political agenda. These individuals represent only a tiny group in South Korea and cannot represent the entire society, according to Yonhap News Agency. 

Dai emphasized that "we believe the South Korean people have the wisdom and capability to properly handle their own affairs. It is encouraging that China and South Korea maintain smooth communication through diplomatic channels, and our efforts share the same objectives." 

There are a thousand reasons to strengthen China-South Korea relations and not a single reason to undermine them, Dai noted. 

Global Times