What is the 'red line' on Chinese cyber attacks? - Fox News

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The Obama administration has made it clear it considers China's government responsible for the cyber theft of billions of dollars of intellectual property.

But -- -- trying to have to go before the US considers that an act of war.

National security correspondent Jennifer Griffin looks -- that question tonight from the Pentagon.

The last time the president -- the Chinese leader in the United States fifteen months ago.

President Obama did not publicly mention US concerns about cyber attacks coming from China.

At that time US officials avoided blaming the Chinese Government itself for these attacks.

That changed this January.

When the Pentagon publicly went further for the first time in a secret military headquarters in Shanghai was revealed to be the source of much of the hacking.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel just back from Asia previewed what the president might say when he meets president -- you know.

Stations expressed our concern about the growing threat of cyber intrusion some of which appear to be tied to the Chinese Government and military.

The Pentagon has determined when a cyber attack is considered an act of war.

But those red lines remain classified.

As one senior defense official put it quote we don't want our adversaries to know what that red line is.

Because we don't want them walking up to it and then turning back the.

There's a -- a number of arguments put forward for what the Red Line for it a cyber warfare attack would be.

The general thinking is that would have to cause either loss of life or be so catastrophic.

That it would amount to an act of war.

The cyber hacking senior US officials recently blamed on China that included.

Stealing secrets from a dozen or more top defense contractors.

Who make the nation's most sophisticated weapons is apparently.

Not a red line.

Even so.

The sheer volume.

Intellectual property the blueprints of American innovation and ingenuity that have been stolen.

Re purpose.

And competing artificially against US companies is staggering an estimated loss of 300 billion dollars a year.

According to the Pentagon quote the US military standing rules of engagement currently under revision did not allow commanders to do.

-- cyber counter attacks.

Tonight we can confirm details contained in.

A new report by the guardian newspaper another explosive revelation about the NSA.

That in October the president issued a directive for the intelligence community to draw up targets overseas for offensive US cyber attacks.

Chris.

Jennifer Griffin reporting tonight from the Pentagon Jennifer thanks -- that.