"We have clear stipulations against hacking. No one can use the Internet to engage in illegal activities," foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang told a regular briefing.

"The Chinese police will deal with hacking and other activities disturbing social order in accordance with law."

Qin was responding to a reported claim by the head of a leading US security institute that the Chinese military was most likely behind a systematic effort to penetrate US government and industry computer networks.

The attacks have been traced to the southern Chinese province of Guangdong, Alan Paller, the director of the SANS Institute, an education and research organization focusing on cybersecurity, told reporters on Monday.

Paller said the techniques used made it appear unlikely to come from any other source than the Chinese military.

"I'm not sure about the American accusations," said Qin. "If they have proof, they should tell us."

Pentagon officials confirmed earlier this year that US Defense Department websites are probed hundreds of times a day by hackers, but maintained that no classified site is known to have been penetrated by hackers.

The US military has code-named the recent hacker effort "Titan Rain" and has made some strides in counter-hacking to identify the attackers, according to Paller.

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