Yeah BS. Im STUNNED by how many people, especially in the comment section, but also here, are still trying themselves into a pretzel.
To somehow frame whatever SD does in the most negative way. What White Chain asks for can indeed not be done lightly.
The Celestrial Empire has been an Empire for generations. A very top heavy one.

And i think history is full of bloody examples on the kind of chaos that follows when a government suddenly vanishes or changes to swiftly.
Implementing what White Chain asks is likely the work of at least a decade?

So i think SD wanted White Chain to be certain she knew what was being asked.
As such, misconceptions about him being meant to represent a SIN instead of being a complex character aside.
Then we see his chief concern is for his people. His very first though was to evacuate this city.