U.S. President Barack Obama is planning to punish alleged Chinese hackers who have been stealing American government and commercial secrets. Analysts believe that sanctions may be imposed against them by next week before Obama meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington later this month.

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President Obama has reportedly grown weary of the continuous hacking incidents, which has affected a number of American government agencies and private corporations. Many U.S. officials are pointing the blame on suspected Chinese hackers. A charge vehemently denied by Beijing.

Zhu Haiquan, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in the U.S., reiterated China's position that it does not condone cyber attacks. Zhu adds simply pointing fingers will not make the problem go away.

It is believed that Washington is preparing to retaliate against those Chinese individuals and organizations suspected of having to do with the digital break ins. As early as April this year, Obama issued an executive order declaring that such cyber attacks are a very serious threat against American's national security.

U.S. officials are divided on whether to impose the sanctions before or after Xi's official visit. But the latest digital theft at the Office of Personnel Management in which the database of more than 25 million government employees were comprised, has angered President Obama.

Although the U.S. government has not officially pointed the finger at Beijing, analysts believe that such government database could prove invaluable to the Chinese government.

Aside from China, similar retaliation moves are also being planned against Russian hackers who have engaged in cyber attacks against the U.S.

Mark Toner, a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, would not comment with regards to when such sanctions will be implemented.

A U.S. government official, who declined to be identified, said that sanctions will implemented after the American celebration of Labor Day on September 7. The sanctions will primarily target people or organizations that deal in the theft of economic and trade secrets. The U.S. can instruct financial institutions to confiscate their assets and bank accounts.

While China has not made any official statement with regards to the impending sanction, experts say that both countries are already imposing economic barriers against each other.

TagsChinese hackers, U.S. Sanction, President Obama, Russian hackers, office of personnel management, OPM, US-China relations, xi jinping us visit, U.S. cyber attack