Further development from the Type 59 (a copy of the Soviet T-54) resulted in the Type 69 (ZTZ-69), China's first independently designed tank and the first after the Sino-Soviet split of the 1960s which shut China out of key Soviet technology and imports. Externally, the Type 69 was nearly identical its predecessor, retaining the round cast turret that is typical of Soviet tanks, and a conventional layout for the four-man crew. The addition of an infra-red searchlight and a laser rangefinder are the main distinguishing features from its predecessor; some of the new components were copied from a captured T-62 taken from a 1969 border clash at Zhenbao Island. Initial versions of the Type 69 featured 100-mm smoothbore gun, but it was later decided to retain the earlier rifled model as it was deemed more accurate and had superior armor penetration. Both were capable of firing numerous types of indigenous ammunition including HE, HEAT, APHE, and APFSDS rounds. Firepower was increased further in the Type 79 (ZTZ-79), which benefitted from a thaw in relations with the West that allowed for the license-production of the British L7 105-mm gun as well as the adoption of a Marconi fire-control system. Like most Soviet tanks, the Type 69/79 has complete NBC protection, semi-automatic fire extinguishing systems, and can lay a smoke screen by injecting diesel fuel into the exhaust system. More recent variants also feature 'boom shields' on the turret grid designed to detonate HEAT rounds prematurely. The Type 69 was seen mostly as a technology demonstrator by the PLA and was therefore adopted in small numbers. Instead, it was prioritized for export where it was extremely successful, being adopted by Bangladesh, Burma, Iran, Iraq, and Pakistan among others. A few hundred were used by Iraq during the 1991 Gulf War where despite some armor improvements proved to be thoroughly outclassed by US and British tanks. The Type 79 was used exclusively by the PLA but only around 500 were built given the development of the Type 80/85 second-generation successors.

Development of a successor to the Type 59 began in the 1960s but did not result in a finished vehicle until 1974. The resulting Type 69 (ZTZ-69), which was given the industrial designation ,WZ-120, borrowed some technologies from the Soviet T-62, one of which was captured during a the Sino-Soviet border conflict of 1969. The two main early variants were distinguished by their armament: the initial variant as well as the slightly improved Type 69-I featured a new smoothbore gun, whereas the Type 69-II retained the earlier rifled model. The latter also featured numerous equipment upgrades including a new fire control system. Sub-variants include the Type 69-IIB and -IIC command versions. Further development resulted in the Type 69-III (WZ-121D) which was subsequently redesignated Type 79. This version features a 105-mm Type 83 rifled gun which a local version of the British L7, as well as a more advanced fire-control system and a more powerful engine among other equipment improvements. A slightly improved Type 83A gun resulted in the Type 79-II. Some components of the Type 79 were subsequently retrofitted on earlier vehicles which resulted in the Type 69-IIG. Iraqi versions were known as the Type 69-QM which included some sub-variants. Anti-aircraft versions use the Type 69 chassis but either twin 37-mm or 57-mm gun systems (the latter known as the Type 80. Lastly, non-combat variants include the Type 84 AVLB vehicle-launched bridge and the Type 653 armored recovery vehicle.