U.S. to Create High-Tech Manufacturing Zone in Philippines(wsj.com)
wsj.com
U.S. to Create High-Tech Manufacturing Zone in Philippines
https://www.wsj.com/world/asia/u-s-to-create-high-tech-manufacturing-zone-in-philippines-017c1668
36 comments
How does a highly automated factory zone in the Philippines gel with the administrations promise of bringing manufacturing jobs back to the US?
You're making the mistake of thinking that the words they say mean something
It gels with the US being ready if/when PRchina invades Taiwan.
China could easily invade the Philippines too, presumably.
I don't think they want to. It burns at the CCPs soul that Taiwan is free and democratic, ran by a government that once saved their country by defeating the Japanese. They want to erase the Republic of China and the KMT.
I only saw the first four letters of the location initially and clicked because I was certain it was Philadelphia
> The hub will have diplomatic immunity, such as the protections afforded to an American embassy, and operate under U.S. common law—the first arrangement of its kind anywhere in the world. The two-year lease is renewable for 99 years.
This seems like a 19th century style colonial concession. I would have hoped we were past that.
This seems like a 19th century style colonial concession. I would have hoped we were past that.
It's the best deal they are gonna get from anyone and it comes with implied US protection against Chinese aggression.
The same US that famously follows through with protection promises?
China proofing the Philippines? Undead General MacArthur would like a word. If there's a war over Taiwan they're the next nearest set of islands.
China didn't manufacture all the world's stuff back then. A Chinese official has literally responded to complaints from the Philippines over fishing outside their territory or something with something very close to "China is a big country, and the Philippines is not. Deal with it."
Why would China fight the Philippines over Taiwan?
They wouldn't need to, China wants the South China Sea and doesn't respect borders.
Greetings Filipinos, its a trap. Do not trust the US. They will exploit your labor and pay you pennies (do those still exist anywhere?). They are selling you a bill of goods. Fire your representatives that are allowing this. No jobs are coming, only higher energy costs, more pollution, more fat cats, and more corporate ownership of your political system. Abort ship.
> The artificial-intelligence-powered manufacturing hub is planned for a 4,000-acre site given to the U.S. by Manila, said undersecretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg. The U.S. will occupy the site rent-free and administer it as a special economic zone.
> The hub will have diplomatic immunity, such as the protections afforded to an American embassy, and operate under U.S. common law—the first arrangement of its kind anywhere in the world. The two-year lease is renewable for 99 years.
That's weird.
It should be noted that tge person quoted in the article Jacob Helberg who is currently the Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment has ties to both Sam Altman and Peter Thiel.[0]
> Helberg served as a commissioner for the U.S.–China Economic and Security Review Commission, and senior advisor to Alex Karp, CEO of Palantir Technologies.[6][7][8] Helberg has commented extensively on US–China relations, and the national security implications of Chinese-developed web apps like TikTok.
> He married American investor Keith Rabois in a 2018 ceremony officiated by Sam Altman.[13]
> Helberg is one of the top donors to Donald Trump's 2024 reelection campaign, donating $2 million in 2024.
What are we doing here man? Like what are we doing?
America has been completely taken over by a certain faction of silicon valley and they seem to be parting out the country for sale to the highest bidder.
It's like the rise of a new East India Trading Co. but on the other hand -- I just can't see this infrastructure remaining in the hands of America / Philippines if major conflict with China breaks out.
It's like they're building it to hand over to the Chinese in a few years. What are we doing?
[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob_Helberg
> The hub will have diplomatic immunity, such as the protections afforded to an American embassy, and operate under U.S. common law—the first arrangement of its kind anywhere in the world. The two-year lease is renewable for 99 years.
That's weird.
It should be noted that tge person quoted in the article Jacob Helberg who is currently the Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment has ties to both Sam Altman and Peter Thiel.[0]
> Helberg served as a commissioner for the U.S.–China Economic and Security Review Commission, and senior advisor to Alex Karp, CEO of Palantir Technologies.[6][7][8] Helberg has commented extensively on US–China relations, and the national security implications of Chinese-developed web apps like TikTok.
> He married American investor Keith Rabois in a 2018 ceremony officiated by Sam Altman.[13]
> Helberg is one of the top donors to Donald Trump's 2024 reelection campaign, donating $2 million in 2024.
What are we doing here man? Like what are we doing?
America has been completely taken over by a certain faction of silicon valley and they seem to be parting out the country for sale to the highest bidder.
It's like the rise of a new East India Trading Co. but on the other hand -- I just can't see this infrastructure remaining in the hands of America / Philippines if major conflict with China breaks out.
It's like they're building it to hand over to the Chinese in a few years. What are we doing?
[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob_Helberg
The Trump régime is systematically destroying the US bit by bit.
You did not get the memo?
You did not get the memo?
Trump is a red herring here. It's the Thiel and Altman connections that are significant.
This guy is married to one of the Paypal mafia, He's worked for Palantir, and Altman officiated his wedding.
He entered government while retaining investments in OpenAI, Anduril, SpaceX, the Boring Company and Neuralink. These are all Thiel or Musk connected companies and they stand to benefit directly from his policy decisions.[0]
[0] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-05-09/ex-palant...
This guy is married to one of the Paypal mafia, He's worked for Palantir, and Altman officiated his wedding.
He entered government while retaining investments in OpenAI, Anduril, SpaceX, the Boring Company and Neuralink. These are all Thiel or Musk connected companies and they stand to benefit directly from his policy decisions.[0]
[0] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-05-09/ex-palant...
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Just another symptom that the US is unable to manufacture for itself.
That is giant fallacy.
There is more manufacturing in the USA than people know about. Trump Administration wont admit to it because it helps sell their lies.
Two of the three companies I worked for had / has design and manufacturing in the USA.
Former one was bought by Texas VCs and they shipped jobs over seas to maximize profit. Their only goal after buying the company was to make XX millions in 10 years by any means versus making quality solutions. VCs are the share holders when applying the Friedman doctrine. [0]
[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedman_doctrine
There is more manufacturing in the USA than people know about. Trump Administration wont admit to it because it helps sell their lies.
Two of the three companies I worked for had / has design and manufacturing in the USA.
Former one was bought by Texas VCs and they shipped jobs over seas to maximize profit. Their only goal after buying the company was to make XX millions in 10 years by any means versus making quality solutions. VCs are the share holders when applying the Friedman doctrine. [0]
[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedman_doctrine
Oh yeah? Go try to buy anything at any store not made abroad. Go try to buy a car not reliant on foreign parts. Or a computer, or a phone, or medicine, or clothes... It's not easy.
Doubtful you will find life safety and automation equipment on the shelves of your local retailer. Both of those are exported and sold overseas because of the solution quality.
USA excels at manufacturing complex solutions versus simple ones. Well for now, since number of US States are pushing for de-education.
I do look at the labels and check where products are manufactured. Anything from Texas and Florida are put back on the shelves because I choose not fund those politically corrupt states and support treating immigrants and sub human.
USA excels at manufacturing complex solutions versus simple ones. Well for now, since number of US States are pushing for de-education.
I do look at the labels and check where products are manufactured. Anything from Texas and Florida are put back on the shelves because I choose not fund those politically corrupt states and support treating immigrants and sub human.
>Doubtful you will find life safety and automation equipment on the shelves of your local retailer.
Nevertheless most of this gear is made overseas. When it is made in the US it depends heavily on foreign components.
>USA excels at manufacturing complex solutions versus simple ones. Well for now, since number of US States are pushing for de-education.
I don't think this is true. But we as a society have royally fucked up by funding so many useless degrees. Most educated people know nothing that could contribute to anything we actually need urgently.
>I do look at the labels and check where products are manufactured. Anything from Texas and Florida are put back on the shelves because I choose not fund those politically corrupt states and support treating immigrants and sub human.
Oh, so you're one of those people who thinks enforcing the law and resisting the destruction of US society and culture is morally wrong. Perhaps you deserve to have your society die around you, but the rest of us are fighting to keep it together anyway. And we won't let you run away from this mess either.
Nevertheless most of this gear is made overseas. When it is made in the US it depends heavily on foreign components.
>USA excels at manufacturing complex solutions versus simple ones. Well for now, since number of US States are pushing for de-education.
I don't think this is true. But we as a society have royally fucked up by funding so many useless degrees. Most educated people know nothing that could contribute to anything we actually need urgently.
>I do look at the labels and check where products are manufactured. Anything from Texas and Florida are put back on the shelves because I choose not fund those politically corrupt states and support treating immigrants and sub human.
Oh, so you're one of those people who thinks enforcing the law and resisting the destruction of US society and culture is morally wrong. Perhaps you deserve to have your society die around you, but the rest of us are fighting to keep it together anyway. And we won't let you run away from this mess either.
I sorry you don't have standards on how politicians and state treat people. The USA and the world would be a better if more people did. We wouldn't idealize billions and see the for what they are, bad people. The USA would have Universal healthcare and a society focused on education. Raising your own standards improves the world for you and your neighbor.
I am not a Nationalist. Nationalism is just yes-man mentality that limits criticizing those in power being bad people, like being child rapists and part of child trafficking. The whole American / USA first is nothing more than 1930's Germany, motherland / fatherland first. Stupidity and ignorance repeating itself. People first not countries or those in power.
Trade is good. "When goods don’t cross borders, soldiers will" - Frederic Bastiat.
Those 24 hour new stations are de-education systems. I recommend reading [0] "Gödel, Escher, Bach: an Eternal Golden Braid" by Douglas Hofstadter, [1] "Thinking, Fast and Slow" by Daniel Kahneman, [2] "Culture in Nazi Germany" by Michael H. Kater. Systems are more complex than you have presented in understanding them.
[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%B6del%2C_Escher%2C_Bach
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thinking,_Fast_and_Slow
[2] https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300253375/culture-in-naz...
I am not a Nationalist. Nationalism is just yes-man mentality that limits criticizing those in power being bad people, like being child rapists and part of child trafficking. The whole American / USA first is nothing more than 1930's Germany, motherland / fatherland first. Stupidity and ignorance repeating itself. People first not countries or those in power.
Trade is good. "When goods don’t cross borders, soldiers will" - Frederic Bastiat.
Those 24 hour new stations are de-education systems. I recommend reading [0] "Gödel, Escher, Bach: an Eternal Golden Braid" by Douglas Hofstadter, [1] "Thinking, Fast and Slow" by Daniel Kahneman, [2] "Culture in Nazi Germany" by Michael H. Kater. Systems are more complex than you have presented in understanding them.
[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%B6del%2C_Escher%2C_Bach
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thinking,_Fast_and_Slow
[2] https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300253375/culture-in-naz...