International law is a veneer that only works when the balance of power is tilted strongly towards those who support it.

That was the case for the majority of the post-WW2 order, but is no longer. We're witnessing the birth of a new world order. Likely the new order will have an international law of a sort because it's good for trade, but it won't necessarily be the same as it was.

Underneath it all, only power decides.