> I don't think the author's American-ness disqualifies them from writing about China.

It does. Americans, and Chinese Americans themselves sometimes don't realise that Chinatown America is absolutely not characteristic of China, nor modern, nor at any point in history. Instead, it's a strange universe on its own, with its own history, and customs.

To me, when I talk to Chinese Americans, Chinese Americans feel as Chinese, as American football is football.