[3] In August 1965, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) General Staff Department issued a requirement for a weapon that could be used by the Chinese military in a jungle environment.

[1][4] Between 1971 and 1975, the designer identified mechanical problems during torture tests, which were associated with the immense chamber pressure of firing Chinese steel-core 7.62×25 mm ammunition.

[1][4] The weapon gained a notorious reputation when it was used by factions working for Lin Biao during his coup and the Gang of Four during the Cultural Revolution.

The reliability issue was not significant in urban environments,[8] and subsequent modifications to the design resolved many earlier reported problems.

In the early 2000s, Type 79s still in service were retrofitted with railed fore-ends to equip them with tactical accessories like gunsights and new muzzle brake devices.

After trials, the CS/LS7 was selected to be the next-generation submachine gun for the Chinese police force, and was first showcased on the 70th anniversary of the People's Republic of China parade.

The gun is a gas-operated rotating closed-bolt action with short stroke gas piston, located above the barrel, with a foldable butt stock.

[6] The bolt group and fire selector is influenced from the design of the Type 56 assault rifle, with the receiver and stock made from stamped steel.

[7] The first project to upgrade the Type 79 was in 2000 when Hong Kong weapon designer Lee Ka-Ho (Chinese: 李家豪) was tasked to create a conversion kit that would allow the user to attach a SureFire-type tac light and a laser sight.

[11] The PEAK 79 consists of a Heckler & Koch MP5-type fore-end with a SureFire tac light built in with the addition of a C-MORE red dot sight.

[11] The TAPS79 (known as the Tactical Adapter Platform System for Type 79 SMG)[19] is built with provisions for MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rails and can have an OKO 8W red dot sight attached on the upper receiver.

[11] Lee's improvement versions of TAPS79, except that it has a chassis, including modular stock, that can be used to replace the Type 79's original furniture.

[20][11] In 2014, weapons designer Wang Jie (Chinese: 王杰) tested a conversion kit that allows for the installation of a new set of rails over the barrel and a collapsible stock.

[11] As of 2014, it was reported to have completed combat trials with Chinese police forces, including those stationed at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.