President Barack Obama on Friday warned China to refrain from engaging in cyber-attacks against the U.S. He cautioned that these activities amounted to a national security threat and the White House would respond appropriately.

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"We have been very clear to the Chinese that there are certain practices that they are engaging in, that we know are emanating from China and are not acceptable," he said.

Obama, who is set to host President Xi Jinping later this month, made these comments during an interview at Fort Meade, Maryland, where he met with military officials.

The Obama administration has blamed China for a wave of cyber-attacks targeting the U.S. government and private businesses.

Although Beijing has consistently denied any involvement in the attacks, Obama says the U.S. must be more rapid in responding to cyber threats.

"There comes a point at which we consider this a core national security threat and we will treat it as such," he said.

Obama added that his government was open to working with China to create a set of behavioral cyber-space rules. He stressed that if Beijing was reluctant and wanted a cyber-space war, the U.S. would be victorious.

"I guarantee you we will win if we have to," Obama said. "Alternatively we can come to an agreement in which we can say this isn't helping anybody, lets instead have some basic rules of the road."

The Obama administration is reportedly considering sanctions against Chinese individuals and companies involved in hacking U.S. corporations.

According to reports, the U.S. is more vulnerable to be attacked via the private sector. Last year, U.S. prosecutors charged five officials of the Chinese military with economic espionage.

Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said that the U.S. must intensify it cyber-security against Chinese intrusion. According to Clapper, the upgrading of America's cyber security would in turn increase the cost of Chinese sponsored attacks.

Beijing did not take the comments likely. A spokesman for China's Foreign Ministry Hong Lei told reporters that the U.S. should stop making "groundless attacks against China".

Hong added that China hopes to be able to sit down with the U.S. and reach an agreement on cyber-security peacefully.

"We hope that the U.S. stops its groundless attacks against China, start dialogue based on a foundation of mutual respect, and jointly build a cyberspace that is peaceful, secure, open and cooperative," he said.

Beijing insists that it is also a victim of constant cyber-attacks and has imposed strict laws against the practice.

TagsChina Cyber-attacks U.S., US China Cyber Security, us china cyber war, Cyber attacks US China, Cyber Attacks China