Beijing has never disclosed the size of its nuclear arsenal but the U.S. says China has rapidly expanded its nuclear capability and has over 500 warheads.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Southeast Asian leaders Friday that the U.S. is concerned about China’s “increasingly dangerous and unlawful” activities in the disputed South China Sea during an annual summit meeting,

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday sharply criticised China's "increasingly dangerous and unlawful actions" in the dispute over territorial claims in the South China Sea. These had "injured people,

The U.S. Secretary of State called China's activities in the South China Sea," increasingly dangerous and unlawful."

Southeast Asian leaders stepped up pressure on China to respect international law following clashes in the disputed South China Sea, but Chinese Premier Li Qiang was defiant during annual summit talks on Thursday as he blamed "external forces" for interfering in regional affairs.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned Beijing's "increasingly dangerous" actions in the South China Sea as he met leaders of the ASEAN bloc in Laos on Friday.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Southeast Asian leaders Friday that the U.S. is concerned about China's "increasingly dangerous and unlawful" activities in the disputed South China Sea during an annual summit meeting and pledged the U.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned Beijing's "increasingly dangerous" actions in the South China Sea as he met leaders of the Asean in Laos on Friday. China has deployed military and coast guard vessels in recent months in a bid to eject the Philippines from a trio of strategically important reefs and islands in the South China Sea.