Can a Mediation Court Rebrand a Repressed City? China’s Soft-Power Gamble in Hong Kong
“Since the launch of the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) in Hong Kong this May, many scholars and analysts have rightfully argued that it is China’s attempt to create an alternative legal order. However, beyond its purpose to challenge the existing Western-led institutions, the launch of IOMed also serves a broader purpose: rebranding Hong Kong as a neutral, international legal hub, even as the political crackdown that damaged its reputation remains firmly in place.”
“…China’s impartiality also comes into question, as Beijing has a precedent in rejecting unfavorable rulings, such as the outright rejection of the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling that invalidated its ‘nine-dash line’ claims in the South China Sea — a decision it dismissed as ‘null and void.'”
“These developments fundamentally call into question the integrity and true independence of Hong Kong’s legal system. Hosting IOMed in a city that now operates under a national security regime, where the separation of powers is eroded and judicial outcomes in politically-sensitive cases are often perceived to be pre-determined, undermines the organization’s claim to neutrality. How can a city that no longer upholds impartial adjudication at home credibly facilitate international dispute resolution abroad?”
Source: Sino-Southeast Initiative