Cyber security has become a growing challenge to the economic relationship between China and the United States and Beijing should recognize the scope of the problem, says a Reuters report.

White House national security adviser Tom Donilon said, "The international community cannot afford to tolerate such activity from any country," noting that President Barack Obama had vowed in his State of the Union speech last month to protect the U.S. economy against cyber threats, said Reuters.

Donilon said from Obama on down, concern over cyber attacks had become a "key point of concern and discussion" with China at all levels of the two governments. He said the United states would do everything in its power to protect national networks, critical infrastructure and public and private sector property, said Reuters.

He spelled out three requests for China, saying Beijing should recognize the urgency and scope of the problem and the risk it poses to international trade as well as the reputation of Chinese industry and to overall U.S.-China relations.

"Second, Beijing should take serious steps to investigate and put a stop to these activities," Donilon said. "Finally, we need China to engage with us in a constructive direct dialogue to establish acceptable norms of behavior in cyberspace."