Philippines’ bet on shaky investment pledges from the US risks China’s ire

“You have absolutely no idea of what you’re talking about. The whole point of Pax Silica is to partner with countries who are good at doing different things because everyone wins from a secure supply chain,” wrote US Undersecretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg on a social media website in response to an online critic of the US strategic initiative with the Philippines.The spirited exchange came after Manila’s reported rejection of a request to extend diplomatic immunity to US personnel overseeing a planned 4,000-acre industrial hub in the Philippines. Under Pax Silica, the Philippines is to emerge as a critical node of a US-led global supply chain, with a focus on cutting-edge industries such as semiconductors and artificial intelligence (AI).Helberg, having recently visited Southeast Asian capitals including Manila to push Pax Silica, rejects any report of a diplomatic immunity request as “patently untrue”. The episode highlights both Pax Silica’s sensitivities and geopolitical relevance. The initiative is supposed to complement America’s expanding military footprint in Asia, especially in the Philippines.