>American employees refuse to build this, but China's don't.

How about you articulate the threat from an AI powered China to people outside of AI powered China and discuss potential methods to counter that, instead of insisting capabilities be developed just in case.

>is the US the bad guy

Yes

>I'm trying to ask how to balance personal anti war sentiments with the realities of the world

Insist on open information, never surrender consent willingly and demand justification for everything. As always.