US President Donald Trump, ahead of his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, says he has instructed the Department of Defense to immediately resume testing nuclear weapons on an "equal basis" with other nuclear powers.

"Because of other countries testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis. That process will begin immediately," Mr Trump said on Truth Social.

" Russia is second, and China is a distant third, but will be even within 5 years. "

President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday Russia had successfully tested a Poseidon nuclear-powered super torpedo that military analysts say is capable of devastating coastal regions by triggering vast radioactive ocean swells.

As Mr Trump has toughened both his rhetoric

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