Pictures going viral on Chinese social media have sparked fresh debate after showing what looks like a regular cargo ship packed with missile launchers. The ship, named Zhong Da 79, is a medium-sized container vessel, but its deck tells a very different story. Several containers on the ship appear to house Vertical Launch Systems (VLS) that can fire missiles.
Defence experts believe this could be part of a new Chinese strategy to boost naval power by turning civilian ships into potential weapons platforms.
According to analysts, the ship carries around 60 large VLS cells, arranged five across and three deep. Each container reportedly contains four missile launch tubes.
This means the ship could hold nearly two-thirds of the missile firepower of a US Navy Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. These missile cells could be used to launch anti-ship missiles, land-attack cruise missiles or air-defence missiles, giving the vessel serious strike capability if it becomes operational.
The front of the ship is fitted with a large rotating phased-array radar, mounted on top of three containers. Next to it is a dome-shaped radar or communication system.
At the bow, the ship has a Type 1130 Close-In Weapon System (CIWS), a 30mm gun designed to shoot down incoming missiles or drones. Below this are Type 726 decoy launchers, which release chaff and flares to confuse enemy weapons and protect the ship during an attack.
The Zhong Da 79 is currently seen at a shipyard in Shanghai. Satellite images show that the ship underwent repairs between April and August 2025.
Defence analyst Rick Joe has pointed out that some text written on the containers looks unusually casual, something not typically seen on official PLA projects. This has led some experts to believe the ship could be a mock-up or demonstration platform rather than a fully combat-ready vessel.
However, others argue that the radar and weapon systems appear solid and professionally installed, suggesting it may be more than just a display.
China has the largest commercial shipping fleet in the world. If even a small number of these ships are armed, they could become a powerful force in wartime. Such vessels could move among normal commercial traffic and launch surprise attacks, making them difficult to detect.
This concept is often called an 'arsenal ship', using inexpensive platforms to carry a large number of missiles.
China has previously carried out military drills using commercial ships as helicopter carriers and for island-landing operations. While the United States is also developing container-based weapon systems, China's fast shipbuilding capability gives it an edge.
Experts warn that this approach could create serious challenges for the US and its allies.
Despite the attention, many questions remain. Will this ship actually be used in combat? How will its systems work together? And is it legal under international laws of war to arm commercial ships?
Interestingly, last Christmas, images of China's new stealth fighter jets were also leaked online. Some observers now see the Zhong Da 79 as China's latest surprise reveal and possibly another signal of things to come.