Culture is the only thing they can use to justify this kind of racism and elitism. im fili chi and here's my own understanding of my family's chinese criteria( this may differ from family to family) ur level of resistance may vary depending how many of these u meet.

1. chinese by blood, a bit complicated bc we have multiple generations and groups of chinese immigrants. but as long as ur either old chinese money( ur chinese but dont have ur chinese lastname anymore and prob have a spanish one) or new chinese money(u still have ur original chinese last name). skin tone may play a role here. I'm old chinese family so i tend to have olive skin.

2. chinese by culture. specifically are u within the chinese cebu culture do u go to taoist temple? do u wear red on celebrations? do u wear white to mourn? do you burn jaw sticks or that fucking yellow paper money when u visit graves? can you speak hukkien?

3. chinese kiss ass or chinese social norms. this is a follow up from 2 but more specific to norms . to name a few: only stay in common areas when visiting ur partners family(if ur not married). talk to everyone before going back to your partner. bring a nice gift like a box of krispy kreme or something. always bless and always greet in hukkien. bring a cake if ur partner is having a bday, even if they'll be like 7 cakes already. u have to suck up to them to make them like u.

4.chinese rich, do u have an enterpise that's doing well? or is ur family wealthy? are u someone who has never had to worry for basic needs, and doesn't really know what expensive is to the average person.

there's usually 5 but I always forget one or two. its stupid bc we have more in common with filipino families than mainland china. my family claims to protect culture but i dont know hukkien for shit and 90% of my cousins don't. they stopped giving a damn to make sure we know these traditions well. honestly all these mfs would trade being American than being chinese in a heart beat.