On April 16, the Philippines signed the Pax Silica declaration, a US-led alliance that aims to interconnect the supply chain of critical minerals for its military.

Pax Silica was formed in December 2025 as a coalition of 13 countries to “develop cooperation” in the mining of critical minerals and rare earths for the US from various countries, including the Philippines. It aims to counter China’s strength and dominance over the global supply of rare earths and critical minerals.

These minerals and elements are essential components in producing technologies behind electric vehicles, batteries, military equipment, and more. China controls 90% of rare earth processing and also hosts 70% of the world’s rare earths and critical minerals.

Economic security zone

Following the Philippines’ entry into Pax Silica, senior officials of the US State Department and the Department of Trade and Industry signed an agreement on April 18 to establish a 1,619-hectare “economic security zone” at Clark Airbase in Pampanga. This is considered part of the Luzon Economic Corridor.

US officials said this zone will be US territory with “diplomatic immunity” or the same protections granted to the US embassy in the country and will be administered under US law. The US will not pay lease for the first two years, which may be extended up to 99 years. Like military bases, its personnel in the country will be shielded from accountability and punishment for crimes they may commit.

Officials of the DTI and Bases Conversion and Development Authority denied on April 24 that the agreement contains provisions that would nullify Philippine sovereignty over the land covered by the zone.

According to the US government, the zone is the first “investment acceleration hub focused on artificial intelligence.” The zone aims to link industries of US partner countries across different continents. From mineral extraction, processing into electronic components, to assembly for US military equipment—all of these will be contained within the zone.

Impact on the people

The Philippines’ entry into Pax Silica and its agreement to the zone show the Marcos regime’s full surrender of the country’s sovereignty to US imperialism. It opens mountains and ancestral lands to more destructive mining for US economic and military interests without restraint or accountability. It further binds the country to a US warfare enclave.

Contrary to the regime’s claim that the zone will help “develop” the country’s industry, it will keep the Philippines as a supplier of raw materials and low-value processing such as assembly, testing, and packaging, while technology, control, and profits remain firmly in US hands.

This will intensify the expansion of mining operations, land grabbing, and environmental destruction. This will also increase the demand for nickel, copper, chromite, and cobalt—critical minerals found in Zambales, Palawan, and Nueva Vizcaya—provinces, long damaged by decades of deforestation, river siltation, and pollution of water reservoirs.

Much of these areas in Luzon are vital agricultural lands and biodiversity zones that support the production of rice, coconut, and other food. Their destruction to make way for US mining and manufacturing will further weaken food security.