The Philippines, sovereignty and the Pax Silica Industrial Hub – how US’ Helberg sees it

US Undersecretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg committed to the Philippines on the Pax Silica Initiative, a US-led coalition building China-free AI supply chains, after Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. defended the proposed Pax Silica Industrial Hub in his State of the Nation address on Monday. Critics warn the project could erode Philippine sovereignty, displace farming communities, and cause environmental harm.

Advertisement ExclusiveThe Philippines, sovereignty and the Pax Silica Industrial Hub – how US’ Helberg sees it Senior US official tackles suggestions that Manila’s jurisdiction could be eroded by a joint supply chain project 5-MIN READ5-MIN Listen Nayan Seth /author/nayan-seth in Washington The struggle between the US and China over who will lead in artificial intelligence is one of the defining competitions of our time. In the third part of our exclusive interview with a key player defining Washington’s policy on AI, Jacob Helberg, US undersecretary of state for economic affairs, gives a commitment to the Philippines on the Pax Silica Initiative. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr used his State of the Nation address https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3361825/marcos-faces-nation-sona-corruption-crackdown-hits-philippine-growth?module=inline&pgtype=article in Manila on Monday to staunchly defend a proposed US-backed artificial intelligence hub, promising it would create “quality jobs” and inject new life into the economy.The venture is the flagship project in a US-led coalition seeking to build China-free AI supply chains spanning critical minerals, semiconductors and logistics. “A product of the 23-member strong and US-led Pax Silica Initiative https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3360833/anthropic-china-and-why-pax-silica-architect-thinks-us-can-keep-ai-lead?module=inline&pgtype=article?module=inline&pgtype=article , the Pax Silica Industrial Hub https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3360932/philippines-pax-silica-ai-hub-plan-slammed-mineral-plunder?module=inline&pgtype=article will create an ecosystem that will have AI at its core,” Marcos said.“It will bring quality jobs to our people, accelerate our industrial competitiveness, and revitalise our economy.” The promise is to establish an advanced manufacturing and logistics centre in the global AI and technology value chain. But critics warn that the project could erode Philippine sovereignty, displace farming communities, and cause environmental harm. Advertisement Select Voice Select Speed 1.00x