China Hopes Relations With South Korea Will Be Maintained After President Yoon's Impeachment

JAKARTA - Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian revealed that his country hopes that relations with South Korea will be maintained after President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment.

"We hope that South Korea will continue to make positive efforts with China to actively deepen cooperation in friendship and partnership in our strategic cooperation," Lin Jian said at a press conference in Beijing as reported by ANTARA, Monday, December 18.

On Saturday (14/12), the South Korean National Assembly through a vote declared impeaching President Yoon Suk Yeol for his decision to declare a military emergency on December 3, which failed.

President Yoon's impeachment motion was approved by 204 out of a total of 300 members of the National Assembly who voted in parliamentary sessions. Meanwhile, there were 85 members who refused impeachment and eight invalid votes and three abstention votes.

This means that Yoon Suk Yeol's presidency will be suspended as of the time the impeachment motion is received by his office. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is the acting president for now.

"We have paid attention to the latest political developments in South Korea. That is South Korea's internal business, which I will not comment on," said Lin Jian.

However, Lin Jian emphasized that China and South Korea are important neighbors and partners.

"The growth of healthy and stable bilateral relations is of the interest of both parties. China's policy on South Korea is consistent, and we have maintained the continuity of the policy," added Lin Jian.

The peaceful and stable Korean Peninsula, said Lin Jian, is in the interest of all parties and requires joint and strong efforts from all parties.

The first impeachment motion that was submitted on Saturday (7/12) failed to be ratified because almost all lawmakers from PPP boycotted the trial.

The opposition accused Yoon of violating the constitution and legislation by declaring martial law on December 3.

The military emergency only lasted 6 hours because it was revoked by the president on the morning of December 4, after members of the National Assembly agreed to demand the revocation of the decree.

The second impeachment motion, despite removing a number of charges against Yoon, also included several other charges, as Yoon allegedly ordered military forces and police to detain lawmakers when martial law was imposed.

After impeachment motion is approved by parliament and Yoon's presidency is suspended, the next steps will roll in the Constitutional Court.

The Constitutional Court has 180 days to decide whether Yoon is permanently impeached from the presidency or can return to that position.

If Yoon is dismissed, a national general election to elect a replacement will be held within 60 days. Yoon will also be the second president to be impeached after Park Geun-hye in 2017.