HUAWEI Technologies Co. is suing critics in France who alleged it has ties to the Chinese State.

In an unprecedented move, the technology giant filed three defamation claims in Paris over comments made during television programs by a French researcher, a broadcast journalist and a telecommunications sector expert.

The company’s legal actions in France were published in a report by La Lettre A, an online investigative newsletter. Huawei confirmed the claims, which it said were filed with French law enforcement authorities in March.

The filings come as the telecommunications gear maker seeks to bid for a piece of the future 5G network in Europe’s second-largest economy and in countries like Germany. The Shenzen-based company has been seeking to fight reports of alleged links to the Chinese State.

Huawei said in a statement its claims “concern only statements that Huawei is a company controlled by the Chinese State and the Chinese Communist Party, led by a former member of the ‘counter-intelligence’ and using its technological expertise in telecom networks to commit acts of espionage against the Western world.” The company added that “these statements are false.”

Huawei is resorting to legal measures as national security agencies in Europe and America have signaled concerns over the potential risks of using the company’s equipment and presented views on how they could be mitigated.

The Chinese company has sued the U.S. Government for barring its equipment from certain networks, a legal riposte to American accusations it aids China in espionage.

Lawyers for Huawei urged a federal judge in Texas to rule that a U.S. law that prohibits federal agencies and contractors from buying or using the Chinese telecom giant’s equipment because of the alleged risk of “cyber exploitation” by China is an unconstitutional attempt by Congress to drive the company out of the country.

(SD-Agencies)