China launched a nuclear-capable ballistic missile from one of its doomsday submarines on Monday, according to multiple reports, a rare show of force timed hours after its neighbors signed a defense pact and just ahead of the NATO summit. The missile, fired from a nuclear-powered submarine in the South Pacific, carried a dummy warhead, per the official Xinhua News Agency. The launch occurred at 12:01 p.m. local time.
The test signals Beijing’s growing readiness to project strategic power beyond its immediate waters. It also comes as alliance leaders prepare to meet this week, with NATO's agenda dominated by the war in Ukraine and potential talks with former President Donald Trump, who is expected to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines.
Zelensky is pressing NATO allies for stronger commitments, urging members to “stop hoarding air defence missiles in their domestic warehouses” and transfer them to Ukraine. His plea adds pressure on the alliance to take decisive action, even as internal divisions persist over the pace and scale of military aid.
The timing of the Chinese missile test has amplified calls within NATO for a unified response. Analysts view the launch as a deliberate message ahead of the summit, underscoring the alliance’s dual challenges: countering Russian aggression in Europe while managing a more assertive China in the Indo-Pacific.
Critics argue that Beijing’s move is largely symbolic, as dummy warheads are standard for such tests and do not necessarily signal an immediate operational threat. Nonetheless, the launch has drawn formal protests from several South Pacific nations concerned about regional stability and potential militarization of the area.
Counterargument: Some analysts caution that the test is routine and should not be overinterpreted, as China has conducted similar launches in the past without triggering a broader crisis. Dummy warheads and transparent reporting suggest Beijing may be seeking measured signaling rather than outright provocation.