The CM-12 tank is a modified M48A3 made for the Republic of China Army situated on Taiwan.

The Armored Vehicle Development Center (AVDC) used the extra 100 fire-control system units from the production of the CM-11 Brave Tiger to modify the existing M48A3 tanks of the ROC Army.

[2] During the Brave Tiger (CM-11) upgrade program, AVDC received an M48A5 for reference.

The exterior of CM-12 and M48A5 are similar, but the interior is completely different; the main difference being that replacing the original engine and turret of the M48A3 cost interior fuel capacity, decreasing its range.

[3] The protection on CM-12 is outdated, being unable to stop shells fired from the 125mm smoothbore cannon mounted on tanks used by the Chinese People's Liberation Army such as the Type 96, and the material used is inferior to that used on newer tanks, being made of cast steel instead of more modern composite materials.