Taiwan mulling huge US defence buy as overture to Trump

In right this moment’s publication:

• Taiwan considers huge US defence purchases

• Indian buyers are lukewarm over Swiggy’s $1.3bn IPO

• What Trump unleashed means for America

Good morning. Taiwan is contemplating shopping for an enormous package deal of US weapons, together with the Aegis destroyer, to indicate the incoming administration of Donald Trump that it’s critical about boosting its personal defences in opposition to China.

A number of individuals conversant in the scenario mentioned Taipei would in all probability request the Lockheed Martin vessels and Northrop Grumman’s E-2D Superior Hawkeye, an airborne radar system. It additionally needs extra Patriot missiles and should request F-35 fighter jets, which might be controversial in Washington. 

The deliberations come as nations take into account find out how to keep away from turning into a goal of the brand new administration given the emphasis Trump has placed on the necessity for allies to spend extra on defence.

Elbridge Colby, a former Pentagon official and candidate for a high job within the Pentagon or on the Nationwide Safety Council, has been vocal in urging Taiwan to spend extra. “Those who care about Taiwan should be super clear they need to dramatically step up. Their fate hangs in the balance,” he just lately wrote on social media platform X.

A senior Taiwanese nationwide safety official mentioned there had been “informal discussions” with the Trump crew about what sort of arms package deal would show Taiwan’s willpower to spend money on its personal defence. Right here’s what else we all know.

Scroll down for extra protection of Trump’s return:

• Bitcoin hits file excessive: Bitcoin reached $80,000 for the primary time after Trump’s election victory, which the crypto trade has hailed as a win for digital currencies.

• US oil trade: Executives are eagerly awaiting Trump’s anticipated rollback of environmental laws, however manufacturing is unlikely to extend considerably throughout his second time period in workplace. 

• World company tax deal ‘in peril’: Makes an attempt to cease among the world’s greatest corporations shifting income throughout borders to keep away from paying tax could be undermined by Trump’s second time period, specialists mentioned.

• Inside Trump 2.0: His first time period was closely reliant on the occasion institution. The internal circle now consists of a number of billionaires and is in tune with the concepts of the brand new proper.

Right here’s what else I’m protecting tabs on right this moment:

• COP29: The UN local weather summit begins in Azerbaijan’s capital metropolis Baku.

• China: Singles Day, an annual vacation created for single individuals, utilized by retailers as a possibility to push retailer gross sales.

• TSMC: The Taiwanese semiconductor big is suspending manufacturing right this moment of their most superior synthetic intelligence chips for Chinese language prospects, because the US continues to disrupt Beijing’s AI ambitions.

Be a part of the FT’s M&A webinar on November 20 as specialists talk about how the US election, synthetic intelligence and rates of interest will have an effect on international dealmaking. Register free of charge right here.

5 extra high tales

1. The Philippines intends to purchase intermediate-range missile launchers from the US, a plan prone to set off extra Chinese language protests over Manila’s efforts to spice up its defences. Defence secretary Gilberto Teodoro informed the FT that his nation was getting mid-range functionality launchers, which the US dropped at the Philippines in April for 2 bilateral army workout routines.

2. Buying and selling in Indian meals supply app Swiggy begins on Wednesday in a $1.3bn preliminary public providing that buyers have already given a lukewarm reception. Swiggy rushed to checklist and capitalise on elevated valuations this yr because the nation’s inventory market soared. However the IPO has landed in opposition to a backdrop of dismal earnings throughout company India.

3. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed yesterday that his workplace was the goal of an “organised witch hunt”, amid brewing scandals referring to leaks of labeled paperwork and an alleged try and blackmail a army official.

• Ceasefire talks: Qatar has suspended its efforts to mediate a ceasefire and hostage deal between Israel and Hamas in an indication of the Gulf state’s mounting frustration with the fighters’ failure to agree to finish the struggle in Gaza.

• Amsterdam violence: The European metropolis is on edge after what authorities known as an outbreak of antisemitic “hit and run” violence in opposition to Israeli soccer followers after a sport on Thursday evening.

4. Iran has began implementing rolling energy blackouts throughout the nation because the Islamic republic struggles with a scarcity of pure fuel forward of winter. Two-hour day by day outages might be enforced within the capital metropolis of Tehran beginning right this moment, native media reported.

5. Massive British corporations from the London Inventory Trade Group to broadcaster ITV are set for an sudden £700mn windfall after the UK received an attraction in opposition to a Brussels state assist clampdown that had pressured London to gather tax in opposition to its needs. HM Income & Customs is refunding the businesses after a September ruling reversed a 2019 choice by the European Fee.

The Weekend Essay

Donald Trump’s victory represents a decisive rejection by American voters of liberalism, writes The Finish of Historical past creator Francis Fukuyama, and ushers in a brand new period for the nation and probably the world.

We’re additionally studying . . . 

• Can India reverse its manufacturing failure?: The industrial increase within the southern state of Tamil Nadu provides a mannequin for the remainder of the nation to emulate, writes Arvind Subramanian.

• Bosses: Too many leaders keep away from spending time with staff doing the roles the enterprise will depend on, writes Pilita Clark.

• Brazil’s playing drawback: The explosion of on-line sports activities betting within the South American nation has fuelled an epidemic of dependancy with doubtlessly damaging penalties for its financial system.

Chart of the day

Premier League soccer golf equipment are concentrating on stadium upgrades to spice up revenues as England’s high 20 groups goal to reap the advantages of rising ticket demand.

Take a break from the information

In FT Journal, media editor Anna Nicolaou explores how Interscope Data underneath chief govt John Janick signed Billie Eilish and Olivia Rodrigo, placing it on the forefront of the “sad girl” sub-genre.