German website Spiegel Online reports that China may have ordered sonic blasters to use against potential demonstrators at the Beijing Olympics.

The LRAD or long range acoustic device was on display last month at the Asia Pacific China Police Expo 2008 in Beijing. The manufacturer American Technology Corporation (ATC) displayed the device with their Asia Pacific distributor Xuanxhao Group. ATC’s recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission says that “during fiscal 2007, we expanded our international marketing activities and shipped LRAD orders to Australia, Singapore, Korea and China.” Although there no other confirmed reports that China has purchased the device.

The device is used as a warning by emitting a loud sound that can cause discomfort and at higher levels, permanent damage to hearing. Operators can direct the deafening sound to a specific target. The device has been used on ships to ward off pirates, by the U.S. military in Iraq and riot police in Georgia.

The U.S. government does not allow companies to export weapons to China, but ATC argues that the device is not a weapon so it should be allowed to sell the device to China. They label it a “communications system” even though it can cause permanent hearing loss.

Wikipedia notes, “Countermeasures may include the use of passive hearing protection (earplugs, headsets), which may bring the sound down to ineffective levels. In addition, sound could be reflected from a solid surface, and redirected back to the originator.”

You can see a demonstration of the device here. The video is in Japanese but you get the idea.