June 16, 2025

USCSSO @GWU
2 days ago
4 min read

Overview

This week, we discuss the launch of an international mediation organization headquartered in Hong Kong, and the FBI’s arrest of three Chinese nationals accused of biological warfare on U.S. university campuses.

Diplomacy

Hong Kong Becomes Host to New International Organization for Mediation

By President Ryan Szafran

In late May, China, along with more than 30 other signatory countries, established a new international organization for resolving legal disputes. Officials intend for the new body to be an alternative to existing arbitration mechanisms.

The IOMed’s headquarters in Hong Kong’s Wan Chai District is set to open by early 2026. (via Reuters)

A New Forum for Global Dispute Resolution: On 30 May 2025, representatives from over 30 countries, including China, Indonesia, Pakistan, Serbia, and Belarus, signed the Convention on the Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) in Hong Kong. The initiative originated in 2022 following tensions surrounding the Chinese-constructed Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which brought Ethiopia, Sudan, and Egypt into a contentious water dispute. At the signing ceremony, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi described the organization as a platform for "handling differences with a spirit of mutual understanding and consensus-building through dialogue.” He emphasized that IOMed would challenge the zero-sum mentality often associated with international arbitration, distinguishing itself as the first intergovernmental organization devoted exclusively to mediation.

An Alternative to Traditional Arbitration Bodies: The IOMed aims to provide a more flexible, cost-effective, and accessible model of international dispute resolution compared to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA). It is uniquely structured to handle not only disputes between sovereign states but also cases involving foreign nationals—such as investors—and private international actors. This broad scope reflects the views of the IOMed’s founders that there is a need for mechanisms that can address complex transnational issues in a manner that conventional court systems may not be postured to address. Given the recency of the IOMed’s establishment, it is unclear what the qualifications are to utilize the services or how cases will be selected for mediation.

Why Hong Kong? A Legal Crossroads: Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced that IOMed’s operations could begin as early as late 2025, with its permanent headquarters expected to open in early 2026. The choice of Hong Kong as host city capitalizes on its longstanding status as a global financial, legal, and commercial hub. Under the “One Country, Two Systems” framework, Hong Kong’s legal professionals are uniquely skilled at navigating both British common law and Chinese legal principles—an asset in bridging divergent legal traditions within international mediation.

Defense & Diplomacy

FBI Thwarts Alleged Chinese Attempts at Biological Warfare on Campuses

By Contributor Kenny Li

In just the last two weeks, federal prosecutors unsealed indictments against three Chinese citizens, whom the FBI accuses of bringing chemicals to damage America’s agriculture and livestock.

The FBI seized versions of the biological pathogen Fusarium graminearum, a fungus that can cause disease in crops like wheat. (via CNN)

Chinese Agroterroism: Since the beginning of June, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrested three Chinese individuals accused of using the University of Michigan’s lab resources to research agroterrorism methods. In collaboration with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, on June 3rd, the FBI unsealed indictments of conspiracy and smuggling goods to Chinese nationals, Yunqing Jian and Zunyong Liu. The two individuals, who are a couple, allegedly flew these pathogens into Detroit Metropolitan Airport last year to conduct postdoctoral research at the University of Michigan. The complaint states that the individuals knew the pathogen’s consequences and were sponsored by China. On June 9th, the FBI arrested another Chinese national, Chengxuan Han, after she flew into Detroit with roundworms. Han’s complaint states that she is a Wuhan doctoral student who sent four separate roundworm packages starting last year while knowing the roundworms’ potential. Out of the three University of Michigan researchers, Han and Jian were arraigned and remain in federal custody. Liu was sent back to China after being detained in Detroit and remains there.

Traditional Espionage: While not completely new, it is uncommon for China to use American universities as a way to inflict international harm. Over the decades, China has been known as one of the key espionage entities against the U.S.; however, the means of doing so are not related to agroterrorism. For example, almost half of espionage cases by China were conducted via cyberwarfare (such as Operation Aurora), and many aimed to gain military and commercial intelligence. U.S. officials have also been concerned about the ability of Chinese nationals to acquire U.S. farmland near military facilities; in 2023, Florida passed a law to forbid Chinese nationals from acquiring U.S. land, which was later partially overturned.

Current Tension: The incidents at the University of Michigan further accredit bipartisan concerns about Chinese activity on American soil. Chinese embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu emphasized that their citizens abide by local laws and regulations. Nonetheless, the Trump administration has sought to curb foreign enrollment in America’s top universities, most notably Harvard, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio revoking student visas with CCP ties. However, this week, President Trump struck a trade deal with China, which allowed foreign enrollment to continue. The University of Michigan’s official statement regarding the pathogens is that they do not receive Chinese government funding, and “condemn any actions that seek to cause harm and threaten national security”.