The establishment of the International Organisation for Mediation (IOMed) in Hong Kong last week marks a watershed in China's diplomatic ambitions. With 33 founding nations — including Pakistan, Indonesia, Belarus and Venezuela — and backing from 85 countries, the intergovernmental body is positioning itself as a rival to institutions such as the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which critics often accuse of having a Western bias.

However, while China touts IOMed as a "public good" for peaceful dispute resolution, it is........

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