Critics warn the announcement could "trigger a chain reaction of nuclear testing by US adversaries". Photo: AP PHOTO

US President Donald Trump has ordered the US military to immediately resume testing nuclear weapons after a gap of 33 years, minutes before beginning a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

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Trump made the surprise announcement on Truth Social while on his way to meet Xi on Thursday for a trade session in Busan, South Korea.

He said he had instructed the Pentagon to test the US nuclear arsenal on an "equal basis" with other nuclear powers.

"Because of other coun

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