US calls on China to help resolve counterfeit components problem

The Senate Armed Services Committee in Washington believes most of the counterfeiting allegedly occurs in Shenzen in Guangdong province, China. However, according to Senator John McCain, the Chinese are refusing to grant the Americans visas to visit. "It should be in Chinese interest not to have counterfeiting of these electronic parts going on because it would harm legitimate Chinese companies as well," McCain said. The Senators added that even if visas were granted, investigations would be difficult. Senator Carl Levin, the committee chairman, noted: "The Chinese have said, 'Well, even if this could be arranged, there would have to be a Chinese official present during the interviews'. That is a nonstarter. We do not have somebody looking at our staff while they're interviewing people who are relevant to an investigation." Levin warned that counterfeit parts have been discovered in some of the US' most crucial weapons systems, such as counterfeit microprocessors that were purchased by the Air Force for use on the F-15 operational flight control computers. Similar devices were also found on Missile Defense Agency hardware, while the problem affected nearly 40% of the Pentagon's parts supply chain. More information on counterfeit components can be viewed here: http://www.newelectronics.co.uk/electronics-technology/cover-story-hot-chips/20605/