Because the "rules based order" means a diferent set of rules for different situations.

If it's something "we like", then it's ok, if not, then prison.

Same for geopolitics... in one case, we care about teritorial integrity, that minorities should not seced, and in others we help with the breakup of countries... well.. or in some cases, we act is if nothing is happening at all, and noone wants to break away at all :)