I'm missing the not quite part here? The studios wanted to utilize fighter jets and other military grade hardware for their movie, I assume to make it more real

I'm missing the not quite part here? The studios wanted to utilize fighter jets and other military grade hardware for their movie, I assume to make it more realistic, and in return they help market the US military as more kind, professional, whatever organization. There's nothing stopping the filmmaker from creating those items as props, using CGI, ... and releasing their movie, completely ignoring the demands of the Defense Department. China, unlike the US, has a quota on the number of foreign films it allows to be imported into the country, and to be selected for one of these coveted spots, Hollywood and film makers change the content of the their movies to fit the narrative of the Chinese government. Try marking Taiwan as an independent country and see where that gets you, for example. Alternatively, try releasing a movie sympathetic to the Taliban, or being critical of America in Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan. No one will stop you. The two countries are not equally problematic here.