<P>The promising influences of K<SUP>+</SUP> and Ca<SUP>2+</SUP> ions in the development of effective MnO<SUB>2</SUB> for the selective oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) were studied for the catalytic performance under a high-pressure reaction of aqueous O<SUB>2</SUB> (0.5 MPa) in a basic system. Various oxidation states of manganese in MnO<SUB>2</SUB> were able to accelerate the oxidation of 5-formyl-2-furancarboxylic acid to FDCA in the rate-determining step. The results were in good agreement that Ca<SUP>2+</SUP> played a key role in the highest FDCA yield up to 85% due to the associated cations on the local coordination to enhance the high surface area and the electronic effect on the manganese ion. Both K-MnO<SUB>2</SUB> and Ca-MnO<SUB>2</SUB> catalysts showed excellent catalytic activities without a significant change in the efficiency in the reusability experiments.</P><BR>[FIG OMISSION]</BR>