Launched in April 2024 as the first Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGI) corridor in the Indo-Pacific, the Luzon Economic Corridor aims to strengthen connectivity among Subic Bay, Clark, Manila, and Batangas. The initiative focuses on coordinated investments in transport infrastructure, energy systems, digital connectivity, and advanced manufacturing supply chains.

Officials said the expanded partnership is expected to generate thousands of high-quality jobs, attract more investments, and accelerate economic transformation across Luzon.

“The expansion of the LEC partnership demonstrates the power of collaboration among valued partners committed to transparency and shared prosperity,” said Frederick D. Go, Co-Chair of the LEC Steering Committee.

“Together, we are building infrastructure that will improve daily life for millions of Filipinos and create new opportunities for businesses, industries, and communities in our partner countries and across the region,” Go added.

The LEC partners reaffirmed their commitment to promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific through fair, transparent, and sustainable economic development. Participating countries will provide technical assistance, financing support, and private sector investment facilitation while joining working groups focused on transport, energy, and digital infrastructure.

Among the key commitments announced:

• Australia is mobilizing investments through Australia’s Manila Deal Team, backed by technical assistance under its Partnerships for Infrastructure program and a new Php1.9-billion (US$32.6-million) partnership with the Philippines focused on inclusive economic growth.
• Canada is allocating Php89 million (US$1.4 million) for targeted technical assistance projects jointly identified with the Philippine government, while also connecting potential Canadian investors to opportunities within the LEC.
• Denmark is supporting the revitalization of the Philippine shipbuilding industry through green maritime innovation and sustainable industrial development initiatives expected to create up to 10,000 jobs.
• France is strengthening regional connectivity by financing 100 bridges through official development assistance and supporting industrial capacity-building projects in the aeronautics sector.
• Italy is expanding support for resilient and sustainable infrastructure projects by increasing public financial backing aimed at encouraging private investments in transport, semiconductors, and manufacturing.
• Republic of Korea is enhancing transport and digital connectivity through Official Development Assistance and Public-Private Partnership initiatives, including a Php1.5-billion (US$25.6-million) grant for the establishment of the National Cyber Security Center and support for the Ninoy Aquino International Airport modernization project.
• Sweden is contributing Php74 million (US$1.2 million) for a feasibility study covering signaling systems and operational models for the Subic-Clark-Manila-Batangas freight railway project.
• The United Kingdom is deploying its Growth and Investment Partnerships (GIP+) toolkit, which includes technical assistance, Php411 billion (US$6.8 billion) in export finance, and capital mobilization for infrastructure and energy developments.

“The expansion of the Luzon Economic Corridor partnership shows what we can accomplish when like-minded nations unite around strategic infrastructure and shared prosperity,” said Heather Variava.

“This initiative is creating real opportunities for U.S. businesses, our Philippine partners, and investors across the Indo-Pacific while offering a transparent and sustainable alternative for infrastructure development,” Variava added.

Meanwhile, Endo Kazuya emphasized the shared vision behind the initiative.

“This expanded partnership reflects our shared commitment to quality infrastructure development grounded in transparency, sustainability, and the rule of law,” Kazuya said. “Together, we are building connectivity that will benefit generations of Filipinos and strengthen economic ties across the Indo-Pacific.”

The Luzon Economic Corridor is seen as a major platform for both domestic and international investors seeking opportunities in transformative infrastructure, supply chain resilience, and regional connectivity projects.

As the world confronts the challenges of population aging and healthcare workforce shortages, digital transformation in healthcare is no longer optional but essential. Taiwan has introduced the “Healthy Taiwan” vision, placing “driving digital healthcare” at its core. By integrating big data, artificial intelligence (AI), and cloud technologies, the system aims to improve healthcare quality and efficiency while moving toward a new healthcare model centered on holistic, person-centered care.

Taiwan benefits from both a robust ICT industry and the foundation of its National Health Insurance (NHI) system, which has accumulated high-quality healthcare data over time and laid a critical foundation for smart healthcare development. Building on this, we have introduced a national digital health platform known as the “3-3-3 Framework,” integrating three major health spaces, three key health data standards, and three National AI governance centers to establish a comprehensive digital health infrastructure. Under this framework, we are promoting the integration of electronic medical records across more than 400 hospitals nationwide and adopting international standards such as Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) to ensure cross-institutional interoperability. Within a Zero Trust cybersecurity framework, healthcare data can be securely shared and effectively utilized.

With these policies in place, tangible results are already beginning to emerge. In chronic disease management, the “Family Physician Platform” incorporates AI-based risk prediction to support physicians in delivering personalized care, facilitating a shift from reactive treatment to proactive health management. In terms of healthcare data integration, the MediCloud system provides real-time access to patient records and medication information, while enhanced visualization of examination results and AI-assisted medical imaging interpretation further improve healthcare quality and patient safety.

Personal health management has also been strengthened. The “My Health Bank” platform has surpassed a 50% adoption rate and can be integrated with data from wearable devices, encouraging individuals to take a more active role in managing their health. In digitalization of cancer treatment, Taiwan utilizes the FHIR standard to exchange Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) data, accelerating the review process for catastrophic illness certification and related medical use, thereby improving access to timely treatment. In addition, the promotion of virtual health insurance cards, e-prescriptions, and telemedicine services is effectively overcoming temporal and geographical barriers, expanding access to rural and home-based care.

Taiwan has established a comprehensive governance framework to advance the development of clinical AI. Nineteen national medical AI centers have been established, covering responsible governance, clinical validation, and impact evaluation, ensuring that AI is safe and reliable across the entire process from development to application. To date, more than 50 AI medical products have received regulatory approval, supporting early cancer detection, prediction of cardiac events, and clinical decision making support. Taiwan also has 13 hospitals ranked among Newsweek’s “World’s Best Smart Hospitals 2026,” placing second in Asia and demonstrating strong international competitiveness. In addition, Taiwan is advancing federated learning platforms that enable cross-institutional and cross-border AI model validation without transferring sensitive data, and has begun collaborating with partners in Southeast Asia to establish trusted international data-sharing models.

Diseases know no borders, and global health governance requires comprehensive collaboration. Taiwan has established a smart healthcare ecosystem driven by data, enabled by AI, and supported by interoperable standards, extending medical services from hospitals into communities and daily life and realizing holistic care. Taiwan’s practical experience demonstrates that we are capable of contributing to the international community.

However, Taiwan continues to be excluded from full participation in the World Health Organization and its related mechanisms. United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 and World Health Assembly (WHA) Resolution 25.1 neither mention Taiwan nor exclude Taiwan from participating in WHO and the WHA.

We sincerely urge WHO and relevant stakeholders to support Taiwan’s inclusion in the global health system, thereby strengthening its completeness and resilience. Taiwan will continue to advance smart healthcare through digital innovation and contribute to global health and well-being. Together, we can realize the vision of health as a fundamental human right as set forth in the WHO Constitution, as well as the commitment of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals to leave no one behind.

At a roundtable hosted by Palo Alto Networks, its executives warned that artificial intelligence (AI) is dramatically accelerating how cyberattacks are created and deployed, exposing a widening gap between threat speed and organizational readiness.

Data presented during the discussion showed that the time required to develop and launch ransomware has dropped from nine days to just 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, the window from initial system compromise to data exfiltration has narrowed to as little as 25 minutes, with vulnerabilities often exploited in under an hour.

This compression of time is reshaping how businesses must approach risk.

“Cybersecurity is no longer just an IT concern. Before, it was a topic for the CISO (chief information security officer) and CIO (chief information officer), but at this point in time, it needs to be a discussion at the board level and across the C-suite. It is a business priority, a national resilience issue, and ultimately, a matter of public trust,” said Bernadette Nacario, Country Director for the Philippines.

Despite the urgency, only 6% of organizations have established a robust AI security strategy, underscoring how unprepared many firms remain for AI-driven threats.

Industry leaders said this gap reflects a deeper issue: Cybersecurity is still often treated as a reactive function rather than a built-in component of digital transformation.

“Secure AI by Design means ensuring that as we integrate AI into digital transformation, security is built in from the start – not added later,” said Nicole Quinn, Vice President for Policy and Government Affairs for JAPAC (Japan and Asia Pacific).

The implications extend beyond corporate risk to national resilience.

As more services move online, experts stressed that stronger coordination between government and the private sector will be essential, with agencies such as the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) playing a central role in safeguarding critical infrastructure.

Tom Scully, Principal Architect for Government & Critical Infrastructure for JAPAC, pointed to another structural weakness: fragmented security systems.

“Today, many operate with dozens of disconnected tools that don’t communicate with each other, making it difficult for AI to analyze data, generate insights, and respond to threats in real time,” Scully said during the roundtable.

“To keep pace with AI-driven threats, organizations need to be significantly faster and more coordinated. A platform approach to security, combined with AI-powered tools, allows defenders to operate at the speed required to counter modern threats proactively,” he added.

The meeting, co-chaired by DFA Undersecretary for Policy Leo M. Herrera-Lim and Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Olexandr Mischenko, underscored the urgency of building resilient partnerships as conflicts and economic disruptions continue to reshape global dynamics.

Officials from both sides, including Philippine Ambassador to Ukraine Alan L. Deniega and Ukrainian Ambassador to the Philippines Yuliia Fediv, discussed expanding cooperation in defense, cybersecurity, innovation, trade, agriculture, energy, and health; these sectors are seen as critical in navigating shared vulnerabilities.

The consultations come more than a decade after the inaugural round in Kyiv and follow a series of high-level engagements, including the meeting between Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the latter’s visit to Manila in 2024.

The opening of Ukraine’s embassy in Manila later that year further signaled a strengthening of bilateral ties.

Beyond bilateral issues, both sides exchanged views on regional and global developments, with Manila outlining priorities under its ASEAN chairship and Kyiv sharing updates on efforts toward a just and lasting peace.

In a world marked by shifting alliances, both countries reaffirmed their commitment to sustained dialogue, multilateral engagement, and the rules-based international order.

Nicole Quinn, Vice President for Policy and Government Affairs for Japan and Asia Pacific at Palo Alto Networks, said the ASEAN chairship comes at a critical time, as governments across the region face rising cyber threats and increasing pressure to protect sensitive data and digital infrastructure.

“I think the ASEAN chairship is a fantastic opportunity to bring almost the different agencies… on their journey and what they’re doing,” Quinn said.

She noted that the leadership role has already encouraged stronger coordination among Philippine government agencies, with departments sharing progress and working toward common goals.

“Yesterday we heard from all the different government departments on their journey and what they’re doing. The education department are doing different proofs of concepts. You’ve got the DICT doing programmes, you’re doing training, uplifting,” she said.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has been leading several initiatives, including training programs and cybersecurity awareness efforts, while other agencies are testing new technologies to improve resilience.

Quinn said the chairship is helping sharpen the government’s focus by setting clear priorities and targets.

“By having the chairship, it’s actually focused the government on key deliverables and key outcomes,” she said.

This, she added, could allow the Philippines to move faster than it otherwise would have.

“I think it will enable the Philippines to really leapfrog or almost grow quicker than perhaps if they hadn’t had the chairship to improve their cyber posture across the region,” Quinn said.

Recent efforts, including cybersecurity summits and cross-agency collaboration, signal a stronger push to address vulnerabilities and prepare for more sophisticated attacks.

While challenges remain, experts say the Philippines’ ASEAN leadership provides a unique window to align policies, strengthen regional cooperation, and build a more secure digital environment—not just for the country, but for Southeast Asia as a whole.

This urgency took center stage at the recent forum “Managing Cyber Risk in Critical Infrastructure Investments,” organized by the British Chamber of Commerce Philippines (BCCP), where government and industry leaders warned that cyber threats tied to geopolitical tensions could directly impact economies, infrastructure, and public trust.

Speaking at the event, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Division Chief Apple Pre underscored that as digital connectivity expands, so too does vulnerability.

“And as we expand connectivity, we are also expanding the attack surface. And with that, more systems, more users, and more data will increase exposure to cyberattacks. And this is why cyber security cannot be an afterthought. It must be integrated from the start, which is by design and by default,” Pre said.

“Cybersecurity is a cross-bounding pillar. And whether we talk about digital governance, public-private partnerships, or infrastructure resilience, security is what enables this to function safely and reliably. And at its core, cyber security ensures the protection of critical systems, connectivity of services, and trust of citizen stakeholders,” she added.

Pre linked this directly to the Philippines’ rollout of the National Digital Connectivity Plan (NDCP), the country’s first infrastructure master plan for digital connectivity, which aims to strengthen interconnectivity while accelerating digital government services.

The forum also highlighted how ongoing geopolitical tensions, particularly in the Middle East, are reshaping economic and policy priorities.

Chris Nelson, Executive Vice Chairman of the British Chamber, warned that global instability and domestic fiscal adjustments could weigh on growth, while emphasizing the need to push forward with key reforms.

“I think the other thing that particularly affects the Philippines at the moment, which we know had an impact on GDP, was actually the reduced government spending, which is in relation to the fact that much more controls have been put in place,” Nelson said.

“So, of course, we need to see that, but there has been a commitment to increased spending. So, I think the Philippines does stand there, but we would urge the Philippines to keep on with its legislation passages, particularly on e-commerce, on digital payments and, of course, on cybersecurity,” he added.

Among the key policy developments welcomed by the Chamber was the signing of the implementing rules and regulations of the E-Governance Act, seen as a cornerstone of the country’s broader digital transformation agenda.

At the regional level, the Philippines, currently chairing the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, is positioning cybersecurity as a central pillar of cooperation, particularly as cyber threats grow more sophisticated and transnational.

Pre emphasized that building cyber resilience will require “stronger collaboration with private sectors, international, and ASEAN as well, so that the best practices, if it’s shared, we can be more equipped, especially because they have enhanced cybersecurity posture. So those things, actually, of course, with that, we can be more equipped as they give us training as well, and it can really develop the skills here in the Philippines.”

The forum is supported by Eastern Communications, KMC, and media partner The Philippine Business and News.

The event brought together women leaders from the private sector, government, regional associations, and the academe, including delegations from the Heads of ASEAN Power Utilities/Authorities (HAPUA), Sarawak Energy in Malaysia, and PacificLight in Singapore. Discussions highlighted the transformative role of women in advancing cybersecurity, promoting ethical artificial intelligence (AI), and ensuring accountable governance in an increasingly digital world.

Organized by Meralco’s Internal Audit Office, the forum featured prominent thought leaders such as Arlene A. Romasanta, Chief Information Officer of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR); Rhea-Luz R. Valbuena, Executive Director of Asia Pacific College; and Zaida Angelita P. Lazaro, Chief Audit Executive of Steel Asia Manufacturing Corporation. They shared insights on building an ethical digital culture and showed how inclusive leadership strengthens governance, reduces organizational risk, and supports thriving digital ecosystems.

Leadership rooted in purpose, courage, and collective progress

In her keynote, Meralco Senior Vice President and Chief Audit Executive Melanie T. Oteyza emphasized that leadership today is defined by purpose and impact rather than title, particularly as AI, cybersecurity, and governance transform workplaces, societies, and institutions.

“Leadership is not defined by age, title, or sector, but by purpose, courage, and the impact we choose to make,” Oteyza said. “Across Asia-Pacific, women are not merely adapting to change—they are leading it.”

She also stressed the importance of shared responsibility in shaping a trustworthy digital future: “Progress is not achieved by women alone. It is accelerated when leaders of all genders—including our male allies—commit to inclusive leadership, shared accountability, and mutual respect.”

The forum continues Meralco’s broader efforts to cultivate future-ready leaders. Last year, the company launched an audit awareness program for students, bridging the gap between academe and industry. Through initiatives like She Leads 2026, Meralco advances women leadership, promotes responsible digital transformation, and strengthens its advocacy for safe, ethical, and inclusive governance across Asia-Pacific.

The character of warfare in the Indo-Pacific is changing fast, moving beyond ships, missiles, and troop deployments into a new domain where control of data, signals, and digital networks could determine the outcome of future conflicts.

This caveat was underscored by Italian electronic warfare expert Antonio Dovizio during a high-level security forum organized by the Italian Embassy in Manila, where he emphasized that future conflicts will increasingly be shaped by dominance in cyberspace and the electromagnetic spectrum.

Speaking at the seminar “Indo-Pacific: Cyber Domain as the New Frontier of Security,” Dovizio said the global security environment is undergoing a profound shift — from a unipolar world order toward an increasingly volatile multipolar landscape marked by intensifying strategic rivalry among major powers.

At the center of this transformation is the electromagnetic spectrum — the invisible but critical domain that enables communications, intelligence, surveillance, navigation, and weapons systems.

“The battlefield of the 21st century is no longer made of metal, but of frequencies, data, and signals,” he said.

From radar and satellites to maritime communications and civilian telecommunications networks, modern societies are deeply dependent on spectrum-based systems, making them vulnerable to disruption, interference, or manipulation.

This has given rise to electromagnetic spectrum operations (EMSO), an integrated approach that combines electronic warfare, cyber operations, signals intelligence, and spectrum management into a unified operational framework.
Dovizio warned that cyber and electromagnetic threats are increasingly converging, exposing even secure digital systems to risks due to their reliance on wireless connectivity.

“Defending the network without defending the spectrum is like not defending the network at all,” he said.

Cyberattacks delivered through electromagnetic pathways, he noted, could target critical national infrastructure, including energy grids, telecommunications systems, maritime logistics networks, and military command structures — with cascading effects that could disrupt essential services and economic stability.

Cognitive warfare and the battle for decision-making

Beyond physical infrastructure, Dovizio highlighted the rise of cognitive warfare — a strategy focused on influencing decision-makers by manipulating information.

False or distorted data, he explained, can lead to flawed strategic decisions, misallocation of military assets, and operational failure.

“In modern warfare, influencing decisions can have direct effects on the use of force,” he said.

He outlined a broader doctrinal shift in global military strategy — from platform-centric warfare focused on ships and weapons systems, to network-centric operations, and now toward data-centric warfare, where the ability to collect, process, and act on massive volumes of information is key to gaining strategic advantage.

Major powers are rapidly investing in integrated cyber-electromagnetic capabilities, increasingly supported by artificial intelligence and advanced digital technologies designed to achieve preemptive dominance across multiple operational domains.

West Philippine Sea vulnerabilities

For the Philippines, these developments carry significant implications, particularly amid rising tensions in the West Philippine Sea.

Dovizio identified a range of vulnerabilities linked to the country’s maritime geography, including cyber espionage targeting naval operations, hybrid attacks on maritime logistics and port infrastructure, supply-chain disruptions, and deep infiltration of both digital systems and personnel networks.

He warned that cyber operations are increasingly mirroring physical confrontations, with digital attacks capable of shaping real-world military standoffs in contested maritime spaces.

In such an environment, the human factor remains a critical vulnerability, as phishing campaigns, social engineering, and insider threats continue to exploit gaps in cybersecurity awareness.

Rising threat environment, technology as defense

Cyberattacks have surged sharply in recent years amid ongoing conflicts in Europe and the Middle East, highlighting the urgency for countries to strengthen cyber resilience in an increasingly unstable security landscape.
Dovizio stressed that technological innovation remains a crucial line of defense, with integrated cyber-electromagnetic solutions enabling governments to enhance situational awareness, detect emerging threats, and protect critical infrastructure.

These capabilities, he said, are becoming essential as warfare evolves into a complex, multi-domain contest where digital superiority can shape outcomes on land, at sea, in the air, and in space.

Strategic imperative for the Philippines

For the Philippines — strategically positioned at the heart of Indo-Pacific geopolitical competition — strengthening cyber-electromagnetic capabilities is no longer a hypothetical risk but an empirically grounded national imperative.
Safeguarding national security, protecting maritime interests in contested waters, and sustaining economic growth now hinge on the country’s ability to adapt to the realities of modern conflict, where control of information, data, and the electromagnetic spectrum increasingly determines strategic advantage.

At The Great Indoors Podcast, hosted by Matthew Roberts, Customer Marketing Head of Amdocs, Globe’s President and CEO shared how AI is driving the company’s evolution and strengthening its mission to make connectivity a powerful enabler of progress across the Philippines.

Now in its 12th season, The Great Indoors explores how storytelling helps bridge the gap between complex technologies like AI and the human experience. Globe’s participation underscored its shift from a traditional telecommunications provider to a trusted lifestyle partner—supporting education, livelihood, healthcare, and digital inclusion nationwide.

Reflecting on leadership and transformation, Globe emphasized its continued focus on customer-centricity, sustainability, and strategic partnerships that expand access to connectivity. Initiatives such as AI-driven personalization, disaster response solutions, and collaborations with global partners like Starlink and Amdocs are helping shape a more inclusive digital future for Filipinos.

With the Philippines comprising more than 7,600 islands and serving over 65 million customers, connectivity remains both a challenge and an opportunity. The company highlighted its partnership with Starlink on direct-to-device satellite technology as a key milestone. By complementing mobile and fiber networks with satellite connectivity, Globe aims to reach the remaining underserved 4% of the population in remote and mountainous areas—bringing coverage closer to 100% and enabling broader participation in the digital economy.

Globe is also redefining customer experience in the digital-first era through investments in AI-powered customer care, self-service platforms, and proactive network monitoring. Central to this is the GlobeOne app, which allows users to manage accounts, monitor usage, pay bills, and access personalized offers seamlessly.

In parallel, the company continues to strengthen its efforts in digital safety. It was among the first telecom operators globally to stop sending SMS messages containing links—a move introduced five years ago to help protect users from scams and malicious content. Since 2021, Globe has blocked more than 12 billion spam and scam messages, reinforcing its commitment to safeguarding customers online.

Beyond technology, Globe also highlighted its strong focus on diversity and inclusion, positioning it not just as a human resources initiative but as a core business philosophy. By reflecting the diversity of the Filipino population within its workforce, the company enhances its ability to serve a wide range of customer needs.

Globe reaffirmed its mission to build meaningful connections, deliver exceptional care for customers and employees, and contribute to national progress through innovation, inclusivity, and a safer digital environment.

For more information, visit https://www.globe.com.ph/.

The Philippines must strengthen its cyber defenses as intensifying geopolitical competition in the Indo-Pacific increasingly shifts into the digital domain, officials warn.

Cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure, financial systems, and trade networks could disrupt business operations and undermine economic growth, making cybersecurity a key pillar of both national security and economic resilience.

Speaking at the seminar “Indo-Pacific: Cyber Domain as the New Frontier of Security,” organized by the Embassy of Italy in Manila in partnership with Italy-based defense electronics and cybersecurity firm ELT Group, Brigadier General Walter P. Icaro emphasized that building stronger cyber resilience is now critical for countries like the Philippines.

“As the Indo-Pacific emerges as a center of global economic power and geopolitical competition, the region — home to more than 65 percent of the world’s population — remains a major hub of global trade and technological development,” he said.

Icaro highlighted the rise of “grey-zone operations,” including cyber espionage, ransomware attacks, disinformation campaigns, and the prepositioning of threats within critical infrastructure such as power grids, water systems, and submarine communication cables.

Security studies have identified cyber threat groups linked to state actors from China, North Korea, and Russia, many of which have targeted Southeast Asian countries.

With more than 90 percent of regional trade dependent on digital connectivity, disruptions in these networks could have major economic and business consequences, affecting finance, logistics, manufacturing, and e-commerce.

Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing are further reshaping the threat landscape, enabling automated malware, sophisticated phishing, deepfake campaigns, and potential future risks to encryption systems that safeguard sensitive commercial and government data.

In response, nations are increasingly adopting layered cyber defense strategies. “Deterrence by denial” approaches, integrating cyber capabilities with conventional defense along the so-called first island chain — a strategic arc stretching from Japan through Taiwan to the Philippines and Borneo — aim to prevent adversaries from executing attacks that could paralyze trade and critical business operations.

For smaller nations like the Philippines, Icaro stressed that international partnerships and regional cooperation are vital. Joint exercises, technology exchanges, and ASEAN-led initiatives can strengthen cyber resilience, artificial intelligence, and digital defense capabilities.

He also underscored the need to protect the physical backbone of cyberspace, including an estimated 1.4 million kilometers of fiber-optic cables that support communications, finance, logistics, and trade.

“Through cooperation and shared commitment to cybersecurity, nations—big or small—can contribute to preserving peace and promoting inclusive progress in the region,” Icaro said, emphasizing that safeguarding digital infrastructure is essential for both economic stability and national security.