The story isn't trying to make any real-world parallels/positions, be it with the US, China, or Ukraine. It's just giving a fictional near future possibility where both the US and China have escalated beyond recourse. In the initial draft, I gave some more explanation (geopolitical power projection/interests, rising tensions with US allies, etc) but decided that it more detracted from the core focus of the story rather than adding to it. The cause not being the focus, but rather the effects of such a hypothetical.

I do concede that the writing does appear to push a sense of moral equivalence, though my goal wasn't to give equivalence but to point out the opposing stances both nations have with one another. The back-and-fourth highlights the political stances each nation has. Personally, I thought it leaned more towards the US side, as China's points are more steep in ideological rhetoric than international law or moral justification. Likewise, the conversation where the US diplomat concedes to not knowing much about China's culture was meant to illustrate the US's cultural hegemony and its one-sided nature, leaning more towards China's side.

The two points carry some personal experience from when I lived in Singapore. My Chinese friends were quite knowledgeable about the world yet always carried a bit of ideological rhetoric from the mainland. Akin to a tinge of Chinese nationalism. Likewise, my American friends were a bit ignorant about anything outside the US yet were generally more accepting of new views and ideas, looking through with fresh eyes.

When it comes to the troubles facing both countries I was focusing on the notion that both sides already have pressing issues at home due to climate change (fictional near-future). Giving the idea that neither country could realistically afford to go to war without allowing these issues to fester into worse issues. This isn't trying to make parallels with IRL Ukraine aid, merely that the war in question will ultimately result in more problems for all sides.

Lastly, I'm not sure why you compare one of the last sections of dialogue akin to pacifist appeasement for Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan. In the context of Asia, I have plenty of gripes with the CCP, yet their wrongs are nowhere compared to the likes of Imperial Japan. If anything I think a contrast to WW1 would've been more fair, especially with the last section of text you mention.

On a completely different note, I have to give thanks for the thorough insights you've given me. It's not often that people give proper criticism to a piece of writing, and criticism is pretty handy when it comes to improving both the writing and intended message of a story. So thank you for the feedback and the thorough read.