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In the Balkans, China represents its interests more confidently than in any other region of Europe. The film "Silent Invasion" takes a close look at how China is strengthening the authoritarian course of some governments in these countries. In doing so, China is challenging the EU, which has been conducting accession negotiations with the countries of the Western Balkans for years. The film explores how China creates dependencies in Serbia and Montenegro through economic investments and demands political solidarity in return. Large-scale projects led by Chinese state-owned enterprises and implemented without the participation of civil society, not only destroy the environment and nature in these countries, but also influence the difficult process of bringing the Western Balkan countries closer to the European Union.
"Silent Invasion" shows how the secret contracts that Chinese state-owned enterprises sign with the Western Balkan countries exclude local civil society from participating. The film tells how Serbian journalists uncovered a whole series of abuses: Workers were exploited during the construction of Europe's largest tyre factory, built by the Chinese Linglong Group near Belgrade. After the takeover of the state copper mine in the Serbian town of Bor by the Chinese Zijin Group, pollution levels increased significantly, while critics were deposed by the Serbian government. In Belgrade, surveillance cameras from the Chinese company Huawei are installed everywhere, even though the city has one of the lowest crime rates in Europe. The film shows how China's "silent invasion" is consolidating the authoritarian character of the Western Balkans by deliberately violating the principles of the rule of law.
