China Says Canada's Hacking Accusation Is 'Groundless and Irresponsible'

China says Canada's accusation that it was behind the hacking of a Canadian technology development organization is groundless and irresponsible.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said in a statement issued Thursday that Canada should withdraw the accusation.

Canada's Treasury Board said on Tuesday that a "highly sophisticated Chinese state-sponsored actor" hacked into the National Research Council, which partners with private industry to bring new technologies to market.

The government said one of Canada's spy agencies detected and confirmed the cyber-attack. The council's computers were isolated as a precaution. The government wouldn't release more information for security reasons.

International relations experts found Canada's stance unusual, raising tensions at a time when Ottawa wants to boost oil sales to China. Canada has reported hacking incidents before, but this was the first time it had singled out China.

In 2011, hackers broke into computer systems at the finance ministry and other government departments. The Conservatives denied to comment on allegations that China was responsible.

(Also See: Canada Accuses China of Hacking Key Government Network)

In 2012, Canada said it was aware hackers had breached security at a domestic manufacturer of software used by energy companies but again declined to say whether it felt China lay behind the attacks.

The latest annual report from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service spy agency devotes a section to cyber-security but does not mention China. Neither does Canada's official cyber-security strategy.

China is often cited as a suspect in various hacking attacks on companies in the United States and other countries. In May, the US accused China of vast business spying and charged five military officials with hacking into U.S. companies to steal vital trade secrets.

Written with agency inputs