Unlike the thought which put a high value on 'Equality,' 'Righteousness' and 'Independence' by Yukichi FUKUZAWA and others, 'Bad friends' in the 'Datsu-A Ron' was the word used meaning the Qing and Joseon Dynasty Korea where, adhering to their old customs of Keibatsu (network by blood connection), lineage government and petit Sinocentrism (idea of disrespect for Japan), bloody strifes over authority were repeated, being Sadaejuui (Loving and admiring the great and powerful) and faithless in diplomacy and diplomatic policies changed so often.
ここでの「悪友」とは、福澤諭吉らの「平等」や「義」や「独立心」を重んずる思想と違って、福澤らから見れば、閨閥、門閥政治、小中華思想（日本蔑視思想）などの旧弊に固執し血なまぐさい権力闘争を繰り返し、事大主義で外交において信義がなく、外交方針がころころ変わる清国や李氏朝鮮という認識で用いられた言葉である。