Just another symptom that the US is unable to manufacture for itself.

How does a highly automated factory zone in the Philippines gel with the administrations promise of bringing manufacturing jobs back to the US?

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.

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

why not Detroit?