BEIJING - The US government has found yet another reason to ignore its own problems and bash China, this time accusing the country of compromising national security via the manufacture of counterfeit electronic components used by the US military.

The Senate Armed Services Committee said a year-long investigation revealed that counterfeit parts manufactured in China have been installed in US military vehicles, including cargo and surveillance aircraft.

A report issued after the investigation claimed that more than 70 percent of approximately 1 million counterfeit parts can be traced to China, adding that the country has failed to adequately police its counterfeit electronics market.

The accuracy of the claims is questionable at best, but bigger questions should be answered first: how did counterfeit parts end up slipping into the US military system in the first place? And for what purpose were the parts originally shipped for?

The US has maintained a military embargo on China for 23 years. Military components and weapons aren't supposed to be officially traded between the two countries to begin with. Taking this into consideration, the US ought to find out precisely who purchased the parts and how they passed muster before accusing China of wrongdoing.

Recent accusations by the US concerning China's currency policies, export quotas, patent protection and alleged acts of cyberwarfare ought to be seen for what they really are: attempts to distract the US public from the real problems that are plaguing the country.

Although the US economy is slowly recovering and unemployment is starting to decrease, the country's government still has a lot of work to do. To that end, the US should stop taking action that will undermine the most important bilateral relationship in the world and work on reviving its economy.

It's not a secret that China and the US do not always see eye to eye on many issues. However, with the two countries depending on each other in more areas all the time, the US should abandon its Cold War mentality and cease making reckless accusations against China.