Lai Ching-te asks US lawmakers to assist strengthen Taiwan’s defences

Good morning. In at the moment’s publication we cowl:

We begin, although, in Taipei, the place Taiwan’s new president Lai Ching-te has requested visiting US lawmakers to assist extra legislative motion to assist strengthen his nation’s defences.

His request yesterday adopted two days of Chinese language navy workouts round Taiwan, which Beijing branded a “punishment” of Lai. The US authorities criticised them as “provocations”.

China claims Taiwan as a part of its territory and threatens to assault it if Taipei refuses to submit beneath its management indefinitely. Beijing is especially hostile in direction of Lai, whom it accused of being “provocative” and “deceitful” in his inaugural deal with every week in the past, when he urged a resumption of cross-Strait exchanges but in addition reasserted Taiwan’s sovereignty.

The FT’s Kathrin Hille has the main points of Lai’s assembly with US lawmakers in Taipei.

Right here’s what else I’m retaining tabs on at the moment:

• Hess vote: Shareholders will vote at the moment on whether or not to just accept Chevron’s $53bn to purchase Hess.

• Australia commerce figures: April retail commerce knowledge can be launched at the moment.

• Donald Trump in courtroom: A Manhattan courtroom will hear closing arguments in Trump’s “hush money” trial. Our US Election Countdown publication can have the most recent on the trial and the upcoming November vote. Join free right here.

5 extra prime tales

1. China’s Premier Li Qiang hailed a “new beginning” with South Korea and Japan because the three nations pledged to revive talks on a free commerce settlement. Right here’s what else we realized from the summit in Seoul yesterday.

2. Israel confronted worldwide criticism after its air strike killed dozens of Palestinians in a camp for displaced civilians in Rafah. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu known as the deaths a “tragic accident”, and the Israeli navy prosecutor ordered an investigation. Earlier, the navy stated Israel had focused a “Hamas compound” in an operation that killed two senior militants. Learn the complete story.

3. China has raised Rmb344bn, its largest spherical so far, to assist its chip trade. The cash raised from the so-called Massive Fund will assist President Xi Jinping’s self-sufficiency drive launched amid US efforts to limit the nation’s entry to the most recent expertise. Our reporters element the place the contributions have come from, and what they’ll go in direction of.

4. Income at China’s industrial corporations returned to development in April. Companies with greater than Rmb20mn ($2.8mn) in turnover elevated 4 per cent yr on yr, in accordance with the Nationwide Bureau of Statistics. The info highlights Beijing’s efforts to spice up manufacturing as different areas of the world’s second-largest economic system wrestle to regain momentum.

5. US market modernisation plan can have big repercussions. The challenge goes dwell tomorrow, shortening the time it takes to finalise the hundreds of thousands of securities trades throughout its markets every single day. Jennifer Hughes and Harriet Clarfelt clarify why, and what may go improper . . . 

The US-China geopolitical relationship: what’s the method ahead? Be a part of FT, Nikkei Asia and Asia Society consultants for a free webinar on June 18 and put your inquiries to our panel now.

Massive Learn

As rewilding opens new habitats, the controversy is rising over whether or not to coexist with animals or management their numbers. In Europe, the problem is particularly related because it pertains to wolves, whose inhabitants is up 81 per cent since 2012. The problem of human-wolf coexistence is greater than an financial query for farmers. “It’s now a conflict of urban against rural, of left against right . . . The wolf is in the middle of this fight.”

We’re additionally studying and listening to . . . 

Chart of the day

Low costs, revenge journey and a blockbuster IPO are retaining the cruise trade shipshape. Total 34.7mn passengers worldwide are anticipated to take a cruise this yr in accordance with commerce physique the Cruise Traces Worldwide Affiliation — 17 per cent greater than in 2019.

Take a break from the information

“Baking has been getting all the love for far too long, it’s time ice-cream claimed its crown as the ruler of desserts!” Terri Mercieca writes within the introduction of her new ebook The Joyful Endings Cookbook: Desserts That Goals Are Made Of. A nerd and a revolutionary, Mercieca will make you fall in love with ice-cream making.

Further contributions from Sarah Ebner and Tee Zhuo.