Will Philippines win race to secure Pax Silica hub before neighbours do?
Officials have sold a potential US-led Pax Silica hub in the Philippines as a chance for the country to move up the technology supply chain, but as domestic backlash grows, Manila’s top diplomat to America has warned of losing the opportunity if they “drop the ball”. Analysts say Jose Manuel Romualdez’s message appeared aimed at critics but should be taken seriously, as regional rivals are also…
The Philippines is in a race to secure a US-led Pax Silica hub in the country before its neighbors can claim it. Officials have touted the hub as a chance for the Philippines to advance up the technology supply chain, but domestic backlash is growing. Jose Manuel Romualdez, Manila’s top diplomat to America, warned that the country might "drop the ball" and lose the opportunity if they fail to capitalize on it.
Analysts say Romualdez's warning was aimed at critics but should be taken seriously, as regional rivals like Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia are also courting US-linked investment. The Philippines is targeting the finalization of a framework agreement with the US by November, with the hub potentially attracting $10 billion in investment and generating hundreds of thousands of jobs within two years.
However, public criticism has risen due to concerns about land use, environmental risks, sovereignty, and the displacement of farmland and indigenous communities. The Philippines has taken part in Pax Silica along with Singapore. Analysts say the Philippines' strong US ties, geographic position, workforce, and alliance with the US give it an advantage in the hub, but other countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam can also benefit from it.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
