China unveils anti-terror laser gun

Company says weapon can hit targets within 200 meters

China has developed a new counter-terrorism laser gun capable of hitting the targets within 200 meters in just one second, the company which developed the equipment said Thursday.

Hongfeng, a company affiliated with China Aerospace Science & Industry Corporation (CASIC), first exhibited the laser gun at a counter-terrorism drill in Central China’s Hunan Province, according to a statement sent to the Global Times by CASIC on Thursday.

It has a handset for aiming and a back pack containing the power supply, a remote control and laser emitter.

CASIC said it can hit a target within a range of 200 meters in just one second.

Compared with other types of weapons, the laser gun shoots faster and more accurately. The gun makes no sound or light when fired, Yan Azhe, one of the gun engineers, told the Global Times.

It is also easy to operate because it does not recoil, and inexpensive to maintain, Yan said.

The forthcoming 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) is of prime importance to the Party, the country and its people, and the public security bureau’s primary task is to create a stable political and social environment for the congress, Xu Xianhui, head of Hunan’s public security bureau, said during the drill.

Northwest China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region also introduced terahertz security scanners for road security checks to enhance counter-terrorism efforts before the 19th CPC National Congress.

“China still faces the threat of terrorism, and we need to stay vigilant,” said Li Wei, an counter-terrorism expert at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations.

He added that many Chinese companies are committed to anti-terror equipment development amid the huge demand.

During the Hunan drill, a wide array of high-end anti-terror equipment was used, such as a glove made of a special material to prevent the user from being cut or stabbed by metallic objects; a multi-functional shield to confuse terrorists with laser and noise, and an electronic shock emitter, local newspaper Xiaoxiang Morning Herald reported.

Aside from developing hightech equipment, the country’s counter-terror campaign needs to mobilize people and enter into joint efforts with neighboring countries, Li said.

In April, the public security bureau of Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang, launched a mobile app which allows citizens to upload text, pictures and video to the app if they notice any activity that might pose a threat to social stability and security.