P-Noy: Hitler like behavior of China

Now we know what the President does in his quiet moments – read history, as he confessed to the New York Times in a recent interview. The President compared China’s aggressive behavior in the South China Sea/West Philippine Sea to that of Nazi Germany’s annexation of the Sudetenland which he said he recently read about, to make the point that these actions are a manifestation of China’s hegemonic ambitions which if not resisted by the world, will encourage them to give full bent to this behavior.

I would argue that there are other historical antecedents – perhaps even more appropriate in this region – but uncomfortable or inconvenient (in the manner of Al Gore’s “truth”). After all, the Sudeten remains a raw issue between Czechs and Germans today that transcends Hitler since it involved not just territory but a huge number of people. Let’s hope that in making this point the President did not manage to offend not only the Czechs and the Germans but the British and French too since they were complicit in what happened there. Worse, the President’s remarks may succumb to Godwin’s law, an internet adage which says that “as discussions (online) grow longer, the probability of a comparison with the Nazis or Hitler approaches one. Once this occurs, the thread is over and whoever mentioned the Nazis or Hitler has lost whatever argument was in progress.”  

As we are already seeing from the Chinese media response, making the odious comparison leaves the President to counterattack and detracts from his very potent message that China’s resort to bullying tactics by steadfastly refusing to submit to the rule of law and enforcing its claim through force and occupation are a portent of China’s behavior as a world power. Likewise, another important point lost in the historical muddle is that although the appeal is directed to the West, it’s a subtle dig at those countries in the frontline, namely ASEAN members which have been unable or unwilling to get their act together, because frankly speaking they have their own selfish interests to protect. China knows this and is happy to string along reaching agreement on mutually acceptable behavior in the South China Sea/West Philippine Sea.

I will not take this opportunity to dispense foreign policy advice which is tricky. But I certainly think it is timely to give advice to the President’s media handlers. An interview with a major international paper like the New York Times is an opportunity to present well-thought of messaging and not of remarks which may make good reading but leaves the interviewee vulnerable. To this, one adage comes to mind: “discretion is the better part of valour”, at least when it comes to the President himself speaking. There are other mouthpieces that can be employed to make those comparisons. You can be sure that China’s President Xin Jin Ping will not be quoted responding to the President’s remarks.  

Liver cancer can be prevented

There are 20 deaths related to liver cancer every day. By 2035, that number will increase to 42. In the Philippines, liver cancer is the 3rd cause of death (2nd cause for men and the 5th cause for women).

I learned this from Dr. Sam So, the founder of the Asian Liver Center in the Stanford Medical Center which focuses on hepatitis B and liver cancer. He has been working with the Department of Health since the time of Secretary Manolet Dayrit.  He has also met with Secretary Enrique Ona.

To prevent this disease, the Hepa B vaccine (available for the last 30 years) should be injected into the newborn baby within 24 hours of birth. In the Philippines, only 25 percent of newborns received the first dose within 24 hours. In the case of China, Hong Kong, Macau and even Mongolia this incidence is from 95 to 99 percent. It should be noted that Philhealth covers the initial neonatal Hepa B vaccine but not the subsequent doses. Three doses are required.

If the mother has chronic hepatitis, the possibility of the baby having the same is over 95 percent. The onset of the disease doesn’t start until the person is in their 30s or 40s. Most adults in the Philippines have never been vaccinated. He recommends a blood test called Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) which will indicate the presence or absence of infection.  Further he informs that most doctors are not aware of this blood test. Much to my surprise, one in 10 Filipinos are infected. 

As a future course of action, he recommends that doctors be given a Hepatitis B training course.  Regrettably our local health providers have not been properly trained. Even private hospitals are not aware of the Hepa B vaccine. As a professor in the Stanford Medical School he admits there is a similar problem in that reputable institution.

Dr. So has been told that there is no budget in the Department of Health for the vaccine. He confirms the vaccine is inexpensive. It is sold to UNICEF for 16 cents (USD) per dose. Based on my personal research, the most efficient and inexpensive approach would be to have our own vaccine manufacturer. I understand that most countries in the region have such a facility, the most recent was Vietnam. Our population of almost 100 million makes it an absolute necessity to do what our neighbors have done.

Update on Typhoon Yolanda

The chart below indicates how forthcoming the world has been in the aftermath of Yolanda.  In my humble opinion, we must reciprocate by behaving in an efficient, transparent and accountable manner as we proceed to rehabilitate the affected areas of Eastern Visayas. Moreover, we should periodically come out with a comprehensive report meticulously detailing what we have done with funds donated to the government directly.  

2013 & 2014 total humanitarian funding

PER DONOR

Source: USAID/DCHA Philippines Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan Fact Sheet #20 for Fiscal Year 2014