Evidence that China Has Entered the Future: Laser Rifles Sold Freely on Alibaba

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Laser weapons are not limited to science fiction films. In China, laser rifles can be easily purchased on the Alibaba e-commerce platform.

On Alibaba’s page for Shenzhen Liyang Welding Equipment Co. Ltd., laser devices are sold under the name ‘handheld 400W-500W laser machine for clearing obstacles.’ The price per unit ranges from US$885 (Rp 15.7 million) to US$1,150 (Rp 20.38 million), depending on specifications and order quantity.

A more expensive product is offered by Gonglian International Trade (Nanjing) Co. Ltd., described as a ‘remote-controlled igniter’ with specifications of 1 kW and 58 V. The laser capable of penetrating 6 mm thick steel is sold at US$1,600 (Rp 28.36 million).

According to Futurism, a search with the same keyword ‘clearing obstacles’ on Alibaba.com shows several laser systems, both handheld and tripod-mounted.

In a laser safety presentation from the University of Utah, a 500 mW laser beam for a quarter of a second can cause permanent eye damage from exposure as brief as 1/100 of a second or shorter.

The laser rifles sold by Gonglian Trade Co have twice the power, thus capable of damaging skin and eyes. There is also the potential for infrared radiation leakage commonly associated with handheld laser devices.

Unlike Temu and eBay, Alibaba is not a consumer e-commerce service. To purchase products on Alibaba, users must go through a series of administrative procedures. However, Alibaba does not require bulk purchases, so laser products could potentially be bought by individuals.

In fact, these laser weapons can be purchased via pay-later facilities and financed in instalments similar to Klarna and PayPal.