With all due respect, I doubt China Bank cannot accommodate a bank to bank transfer to the USA, unless your wife isn't authorized at the bank as account holder.
I would strongly advise (your wife) to have another talk at the bank, preferably with the manager, in order to clear up exactly what the bank needs to execute the transfer (make sure she brings the correct SWIFT codes for your bank in the USA, ask your bank for those). Moreover, I would try to get a better than standard deal on the exchange rate from China Bank also.

 

I confirm that Western Union is the best way. I periodically receive money from the Philippines (loan being paid off to me) and we found the easiest, most cost-effective way was Western Union. It truly does not cost much at all and there are no fees on this end to receive.

 

I just wired [ Swift] a bunch of money to Phoenix. I put the money into my BDO usd account then got the Swift code instructions from the bank in Phoenix and BDO wired the money . I got charged $5 here and $30 stateside

 

WESTERN UNION...
I know to send from Oz to the Philippines use to cost me $14.00AUD
Searching online this link states it costs $5.00 to send to the USA; (Very reasonable IMHO)

Send Money to USA | Western Union

 

i agree WU works easily with small transfers. for larger transfers we have used bank-to-bank transfers both ways and while not instantaneous as WU it does work fine.