South China Morning Post
The US and Philippines are collaborating on the 'Pax Silica Initiative,' a project aimed at creating a China-free AI and technology supply chain hub. While the Philippine government touts the project as a source of economic growth, critics express concerns regarding sovereignty and environmental impact.
Why it matters
This initiative represents a significant geopolitical shift in the global AI supply chain, highlighting the ongoing technological competition between the US and China.
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 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, the Pax Silica Industrial Hub will create an ecosystem that will have AI at its core,” Marcos said.
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