Rules for thee, but not for me

Even a casual readership of media shows multiple efforts to castigate the Trump Administration for 'upending the rules-based diplomatic order'.  Please enlighten me as to when the sun-dappled uplands of 'international rules' existed. That upright foundational member of NATO, Turkey, invaded Cyprus in 1974 and despite multiple UN General Assembly and Security Council condemnations continues to occupy the northern part of the island. Closer to home in 1997, China agreed with Britain that Hong Kong would enjoy political, legal and social protections for 50 years post-departure. Seemed like a pretty honorable agreement, but It took just 17 years for China to trash that solemn undertaking, with crackdowns and the recent jail sentence of Jimmy Lai. Mr Lai, the notable publisher and democracy advocate, is a classic Hong Kong rags-to-riches story - which Beijing seems to hate. Now nearly 80 and in poor health Mr Lai has spent 1800 days in solitary confinement. Don'tcha love those rules?