China's Ministry of Commerce has stated that its export control measures on rare earths are not prohibitions, and that these controls are a sovereign right, according to remarks shared on X by Rush Doshi at 5:02 PM UTC on October 12th, 2025. The ministry also indicated it has not announced a response to President Trump's threats, offering only boilerplate language suggesting a reluctance to escalate. These statements come as Beijing appears concerned by the global reaction to its actions and is resolved to maintain its current regime. In parallel, an individual who previously profited $192 million from insider trading related to "trump tariffs" has reportedly doubled down, opening new short positions worth $160 million on Hyperliquid, as reported on X by 0xSweep at 5:30 PM UTC on October 12th, 2025. This individual closed prior trades yielding significant profits just 30 minutes before the "trump tariffs" concluded. China's Ministry of Commerce emphasized its export controls are not bans and are in accordance with laws and regulations, aiming to improve its export control system. The ministry also stated that they "do not want to fight, but aren't afraid of fighting," indicating a potential desire to avoid further escalation. However, the source notes that the US and PRC positions on regime withdrawal are at odds, and Beijing's assurances are not considered credible. Previous reports from October 12th, 2025, indicated President Donald Trump was preparing for a visit to Israel and had reiterated claims that the Ukraine impeachment inquiry against him was a "far bigger Illegal Hoax than Watergate." Domestic political discussions also included Representative Kevin Kiley's dissent on House leadership strategy, Governor Pritzker's concerns about the Insurrection Act, and Senator John Kennedy's proposal for ending a government shutdown. Additionally, statements from Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene on immigration and questioning of Tom Homan by George Stephanopoulos regarding alleged financial acceptance were noted. The National Association for Gun Rights (NAGR) had also demanded the termination of Attorney General Pam Bondi over the DOJ's acquisition of Second Amendment advocacy group member lists.
