Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Zhao Lijian said on January 11 that the four English-speaking nations that jointly raised concerns about the arrest of more than 50 politicians and activists in Hong Kong should face the reality that Hong Kong has returned to China (“ Hong Kong government hits back at Western nations critical of mass arrests ” (January 10). Didn’t China sign an agreement with Britain to retain a different system of rights and freedoms in Hong Kong until 2047? Many nations in their international dealings do not appreciate agreements being broken by the other party without warning or consultation, which naturally tends to undermine trust. It appears from a distance that China’s national security laws are designed to safeguard the sovereignty and security of the Chinese Communist Party, the Politburo Standing Committee and President Xi Jinping. Like many ancient civilisations and religions, where the rulers believed they were the centre of the universe, China today still basks in the idea of being the Middle Kingdom. Rod Matthews, Melbourne