You assume that, even IF there is negative international backlash, that China cares. They’re playing for domestic consumption where America is seen as arrogant and power-hungry.
The point of all this is that this wouldn’t have happened if our country demanded respect, rather than seemingly apologize for every perceived transgression.
But the whole jig is up if, because of all this new attention, the Chinese people realize how implausible the claim of the film was. The Chicoms will be forced into major mea culpas at home. How many Americans, how many Europeans, even knew about this particular “little lie” until this incident happened?