The establishment of the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed), formalized through a signing ceremony in Hong Kong on May 30, 2025, marks a pivotal moment in global diplomacy. With 33 founding member states and representatives from 85 countries and nearly 20 international organizations, including the United Nations, the IOMed positions itself as a groundbreaking intergovernmental body dedicated to resolving international disputes through mediation.
China’s Objectives with the IOMed
China’s establishment of the IOMed aligns with its broader foreign policy goals, emphasizing peaceful dispute resolution, global influence, and the promotion of its legal and cultural values. Below are the key objectives:
Promoting Peaceful Dispute Resolution
China has consistently advocated for resolving international disputes through dialogue and consensus, as highlighted by Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the IOMed signing ceremony. The organization aims to provide “friendly, flexible, economical, and efficient mediation services” to address conflicts between states, states and individuals, or in international commercial disputes. By institutionalizing mediation, China seeks to fill a gap in global governance where litigation and arbitration often dominate, offering a non-adversarial alternative rooted in mutual understanding.
Enhancing Global Influence
The IOMed is a strategic tool for China to bolster its role in global governance. With support from developing nations across Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Europe, the initiative signals Beijing’s growing influence in the Global South, particularly amid geopolitical tensions exacerbated by trade policies like those of U.S. President Donald Trump. Analysts suggest that the IOMed could enhance China’s international clout, positioning it as a counterweight to Western-dominated institutions like the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA).
Elevating Hong Kong’s Status
Headquartering the IOMed in Hong Kong underscores China’s intent to cement the city’s role as a global legal and dispute resolution hub. Hong Kong’s unique “One Country, Two Systems” framework, bilingual environment, and mature legal system make it an ideal location. As Chu Kar-kin noted, Hong Kong’s geographic position as a gateway between East and West, combined with its legal infrastructure, enhances its appeal for international mediation. This move also counters narratives of Hong Kong’s declining autonomy, showcasing its strategic importance.
Advancing Chinese Legal Philosophy
The IOMed reflects China’s traditional legal culture, which prioritizes consensus and reconciliation over confrontation. Tian Feilong, a vice-dean at Minzu University, emphasized that mediation embodies China’s vision of a “community with a shared future for mankind.” By promoting this approach, China aims to export its cultural and legal values, offering a cooperative model for global order that contrasts with Western adversarial systems.
Potential Agendas
While China frames the IOMed as a “global public good” for peaceful dispute resolution, some analysts speculate about underlying strategic motives:
Countering Western Dominance
The IOMed may serve as a platform to challenge the dominance of Western-led institutions like the ICJ and PCA. By establishing a mediation-focused organization, China could attract countries wary of Western legal frameworks, particularly those in the Global South. This aligns with China’s broader Global Development Initiative (GDI) and Global Security Initiative (GSI), which aim to create a more inclusive international system.
Economic Leverage via the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)
The IOMed could support China’s economic interests, particularly through the BRI. Mediation services for BRI-related disputes could ensure smoother project implementation, reducing risks for Chinese investments in developing nations. Critics, like Alicia Garcia-Herreo, note that arbitration centers in Chinese cities like Xian and Shenzhen have underperformed, suggesting that the IOMed’s success in BRI contexts remains uncertain.
Reinforcing Non-Interference Policy
China’s mediation efforts historically align with its non-interference policy, as seen in its “consultative intervention” approach in conflicts like Afghanistan and Myanmar. The IOMed could formalize this strategy, allowing China to influence global conflicts without violating its sovereignty-focused principles, thereby enhancing its image as a neutral broker.
Geopolitical Positioning
The timing of the IOMed’s establishment, amid heightened U.S.-China tensions, suggests a strategic move to position China as a leader in a multipolar world. By rallying developing nations, China could weaken U.S.-led alliances and promote its vision of a new international order, as articulated in its 1997 Joint Declaration with Russia.
The 33 Founding Countries
The 33 founding member states of the IOMed, as confirmed by the Chinese Foreign Ministry, include a diverse group primarily from the Global South. While the full list is not publicly detailed, confirmed participants include:
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Asia: China, Indonesia, Pakistan, Laos, Cambodia
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Europe: Serbia, Belarus
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Africa: Sudan, Algeria, Djibouti
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Latin America: Cuba
These countries reflect China’s strong ties with developing nations, many of which are BRI partners. The inclusion of African nations like Ethiopia, which co-organized a session in 2024, highlights China’s focus on expanding influence in Africa. The diversity of the founding members—spanning Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Europe—underscores the IOMed’s aim for global inclusivity, contrasting with the perceived exclusivity of Western institutions.
Comparison with UN Organizations
The IOMed differs significantly from UN organizations like the ICJ and PCA, as outlined below:
|
Aspect |
IOMed |
UN Organizations (ICJ, PCA) |
|---|---|---|
|
Focus |
Mediation, emphasizing consensus and non-adversarial solutions |
Adjudication (ICJ) and arbitration (PCA), often resulting in win-lose outcomes |
|
Structure |
Intergovernmental, treaty-based, headquartered in Hong Kong |
UN-affiliated (ICJ) or independent intergovernmental (PCA), based in The Hague |
|
Scope |
State-to-state, state-to-individual, and commercial disputes |
Primarily state-to-state (ICJ) or mixed disputes (PCA) |
|
Approach |
Flexible, culturally sensitive, rooted in Chinese legal philosophy |
Formal, rooted in Western legal traditions |
|
Accessibility |
Aims to be inclusive, prioritizing developing nations |
Perceived as less accessible to smaller or developing states |
|
Binding Nature |
Non-binding recommendations |
Binding judgments (ICJ) or awards (PCA) |
Key Differences:
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The IOMed complements UN bodies by offering mediation as an alternative to litigation or arbitration, aligning with Article 33 of the UN Charter, which lists mediation as a preferred dispute resolution method.
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Unlike the ICJ, which is a principal UN organ, the IOMed is independent, potentially allowing China greater control over its operations.
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The IOMed’s focus on cultural pluralism and flexibility contrasts with the formal, precedent-driven approaches of the ICJ and PCA.
Synergies: Yueming Yan, a law professor, noted that the IOMed could foster synergy between mediation and formal litigation, providing a hybrid model for dispute resolution. This could enhance the global dispute resolution ecosystem, offering parties more options.
Recent Developments
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Signing Ceremony (May 30, 2025): The convention was signed in Hong Kong, with 400 representatives from 85 countries and 20 international organizations, including the UN, in attendance. This event marked the formal establishment of the IOMed, with operations expected to begin by late 2025 or early 2026.
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Preparatory Work: Since 2022, China has organized sessions to draft the convention, with a preparatory office established in Hong Kong in 2023. The latest session in Ethiopia (September 2024) involved African Union representatives, highlighting Africa’s role.
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Hong Kong’s Role: The city’s selection as headquarters, supported by the HKSAR government’s mediation-friendly policies, positions it as a global legal hub. The headquarters will be located in a former police station in Wan Chai, set to open by early 2026.
Impacts and Implications
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Global Governance: The IOMed could reshape global dispute resolution by offering a non-Western alternative, appealing to nations seeking less confrontational methods.
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Economic Benefits: Hong Kong’s economy could benefit from increased legal and professional opportunities, attracting global businesses and talent.
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Geopolitical Shifts: The IOMed may strengthen China’s leadership in the Global South, potentially challenging U.S. and European influence.
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Cultural Influence: By promoting mediation rooted in Chinese legal traditions, the IOMed could enhance China’s soft power, projecting its values globally.
Enhance its global influence
The establishment of the IOMed is a strategic move by China to promote peaceful dispute resolution, enhance its global influence, and position Hong Kong as a legal hub. While its stated goals align with the UN Charter’s principles, potential hidden agendas include countering Western dominance and supporting BRI interests. The 33 founding countries, primarily from the Global South, reflect China’s outreach to developing nations. Compared to UN organizations, the IOMed offers a flexible, inclusive alternative, with the potential to transform global dispute resolution. As the organization begins operations in 2025, its success will depend on its ability to deliver effective mediation services and gain global trust.
