The U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee urged China to let it investigate on the spot widespread reports that Chinese-made counterfeit parts are making their way into multibillion-dollar U.S. weapons systems and other electronics.

So far, China has declined to issue visas to staff investigators. They are now in Hong Kong and seeking to conduct unfettered interviews in nearby Shenzhen, home to many of China's high-tech companies, committee Chairman Carl Levin, a Democrat, and John McCain, the panel's top Republican, told a news conference. (Reuters)