US, Allies Form "Pax Silica" Tech Bloc to Counter China

The United States and eight key allies have formed a new technology alliance aimed at reducing global reliance on China. The group, called "Pax Silica," will work to build a secure supply chain for advanced electronics. Member nations include Japan, South Korea, Australia, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and Israel. The Netherlands and the United Arab Emirates also attended the founding summit. The initiative targets the entire production process for semiconductors, or "chips." These are the vital components in everything from smartphones to military systems. The bloc's goal covers everything from mining raw materials to manufacturing and shipping the final products. Analysts see the move as a direct effort to counter China's dominance in critical technology sectors. By uniting, the members hope to ensure their own access to advanced chips and the infrastructure needed for artificial intelligence.