A growing electronic blitzkrieg by Beijing - blasted by Barack Obama as ''state sponsored'' hacking and now extending to the jamming of Australia's radio news broadcasts in Asia - threatens to derail delicate negotiations for the ABC to win television rights in China.

ABC managing director Mark Scott and chairman James Spigelman are expected in China next month to launch a major children's program co-production with Chinese state television. The trip is also another chance to lobby Chinese officials in long-frustrated efforts for the ABC to win access rights for television broadcasts in the 1.3 billion-strong market.

But the goal has been further complicated after China was accused of deliberately jamming Radio Australia broadcasts in Asia over recent weeks, a move that will also compound fears about Beijing's aggressive attempts to hack Western computer networks.

Mr Obama on Wednesday accused hackers of stealing billions of dollars in industrial secrets and singled out China for the toughest criticism to date over the issue.