U. S. and Philippines Move Fast on New Tech Zone

The United States plans to finalize a long‑term agreement with the Philippines about an economic security zone soon. A senior U. S. official said both sides have two years to finish the details after signing a pact last month. They will decide which industries get priority in the zone. The Philippines is now the 13th country to join Pax Silica, a program that protects technology supply chains from minerals to data centers. The alliance started with seven members in September and has grown quickly. Experts expect it could reach 16 members by the end of next month.Washington wants the zone to have diplomatic immunity, but Philippine officials are still discussing that request. The U. S. side is eager to move forward, citing strong momentum and interest from many companies. A U. S. delegation visited a 4, 000‑acre site in New Clark City near Manila. Representatives from firms such as Agility Robotics and Joby Aviation were present, along with Foxconn’s chairman. The visit showed growing excitement from U. S. businesses. The U. S. official also met with digital ministers from ASEAN at a summit in Singapore, exploring mineral and logistics opportunities. He said the conversation with Singaporean leaders was positive.