Images released on December 25, 2025, revealed that China has retrofitted the cargo ship ZHONG DA 79 with approximately 60 modular missile launchers, advanced phased-array radars, and a Type 1130 close-in weapon system, effectively transforming it into a formidable surface combatant. This development illustrates China’s strategy of using its extensive merchant fleet to enhance naval capabilities at minimal costs, posing a significant threat to maritime security in contested regions like the Indian Ocean and South China Sea. For India, this militarization raises alarms amid ongoing border tensions with China, emphasizing the urgent need for enhanced vigilance and modernization of the Indian Navy’s anti-access and area denial capabilities to protect national interests and critical maritime routes.