China fired a nuclear-capable ballistic missile from a doomsday submarine on Monday in a show of force just as its neighbors were signing a defense pact and ahead of a NATO summit.

The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) fired the dummy warhead from a Type 094 nuclear submarine, the first such test since 2024, according to state media, which did not elaborate on the time or location where the launch took place.

New Zealand, which was signing a mutual defense agreement with Fiji, claimed the missile landed in the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone, which specifically prohibits the use and testing of atomic weapons within the area.

Chinese Foreign ​Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning insisted the launch was appropriate and conducted safely, telling neighbors in the Pacific not to overreact.

“We hope relevant countries will not over-interpret the ​matter,” she said at a briefing in Beijing.