China Deploys Weaponised Cargo Ship for Taiwan Strait

Beijing has turned a civilian container ship into a low-cost weapon to deter foreign intervention in a potential Taiwan conflict, according to a mainland Chinese military magazine. The vessel, named Zhong Da 79, is a medium-sized cargo ship fitted with containerised vertical missile launchers, radar sensors, and self-defence systems. It was first spotted late last year at the Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding yard in Shanghai. An article in *Ordnance Industry Science Technology* describes the ship as a cost-effective way to project military power without triggering a major escalation.