Cyber-security: U.S. tells China to buck up

The U.S. has called for "serious steps" by China to stop cyber-enabled theft on an unprecedented scale, branding the actions "intolerable."

As the war of words between the countries continues, Washington has dismissed China's claims of innocence and even the offer of a truce, vowing to protect the homeland.

As Americans like to call it.

"Increasingly, US businesses are speaking out about their serious concerns about sophisticated, targeted theft of confidential business information and proprietary technologies through cyber intrusions emanating from China on an unprecedented scale," said Tom Donilon, National Security Adviser to Barack Obama.

With the President ready to take action if needed, Donilon emphasised America's determination to protect the economy.

"From the President on down, this has become a key point of concern and discussion with China at all levels of our governments," he said. "And it will continue to be."

Alledging China to have carried out a series of virtual attacks across a range of U.S. industries, China's Defence Ministry branded the claims "scientifically flawed and unreliable."

Taking it a step further, China's foreign minister Yan Jiechi called on the nations to unite earlier this week, offering an online disarmament between the warring countries.

"With respect to the issue of cyber-enabled theft, we seek three things from the Chinese side," Donilon said.

"First, we need recognition of the urgency and scope of this problem and the risk it poses to international trade, to the reputation of Chinese industry and to our overall relations.

"Second, Beijing should take serious steps to investigate and put a stop to these activities.

"Finally, we need China to engage with us in a constructive direct dialogue to establish acceptable norms of behavior in cyberspace."

With the U.S. setting it's stall out in full, the ball is now in China's court, and given the pace at which this argument is unravelling, we expect it to be as early as tomorrow.

Watch this space, cyberspace that is.

Is state sponsored hacking an act of war? Do China have a case to answer? Tell us your thoughts below