Saturday, August 25, 2007 Maxey: The Chinese "invasion" By Ram Maxey Bar None
THEY are here. In fact they are not only here, but everywhere. From Basco, Batanes, in the north to Tawi-Tawi in the south. And they have created consternation and anxiety to millions of Filipinos whose well-being, and even lives, are at risk.
I'm referring to the tsunami-like surge of imported products manufactured in the mainland of the People's Republic of China, which have literally flooded Philippine commercial establishments, from the sprawling malls to the lowly neighborhood sari-sari stores. The products--in the form of foodstuff (canned goods, candies, biscuits, etc.), clothes/clothing, whatever--alas, have been found to contain formaldehyde, a chemical substance used for embalming.
The repercussions of this astounding discovery, which affects practically all other countries importing China-made products, are being felt in the land where they came from. Jittery governments have ordered a ban on China-made products.
Manufacturers of the items, hit by tremendous losses as a result of the ban, have recalled them from the world market aware of the costly litigations for damages they could very well face from those who may fall victims as a result of contact with, or ingestion of, these toxic-laced products.
It is a wonder how the toxicity had to be discovered in countries engaged in trade with China, and not in China itself. Modern China, now a world power in more ways than one, certainly does not lack scientists and physicists who could have made the discovery in time and aborted their export. Or, it may be that they did know about the presence of formaldehyde in the products but did not do anything about, perhaps hoping that nobody would find out. Fat chance.
Which just goes to show to what extent people who engage in business would go to make a profit. Yeah, caveat emptor, and all that jazz.
Deal, or no deal?
They have done it again. Some 20 members of the New People's Army (NPA) a few days back raided the San Isidro municipal police office and made off with all the guns they could find there--M16s, carbines, revolvers--without firing a shot.
The NPA has become quite an expert at swooping down on police offices in the provinces and carting away stuff they find there that would come in handy to the NPA as they continue their forlorn struggle to topple a government that has, for some reason, refused to fall all these 39 years.
The raid also exposed, once again, the tendency of certain police units to become complacent, believing that if they don't resist the raiders no harm will fall on them (the stupid cops, I mean). And the enemy knows it. There will be more such raids, you can bet on it.
And what happens to cops who allow the enemy to put one over them this way? They are simply RELIEVED of their posts. That's what. Not even a slap on the wrist. Just like that. Deal, or no deal?
