Is China interfering in the PNG national elections?

I really fear for the future of representative parliamentary democracy in PNG. It is the foundation holding a diverse nation of many tribes together. Ithas never been perfect, but it has sustained national unity for close to fifty years.

The task facing all PNG leaders today - from across the political divide - is to work to ensure the Prime Minister who is eventually chosen by elected MPs is truly representative of the election's outcome.

That will be difficult as the largest party so far Pangu, and the second largest, People's National Congress, led by James Marape and Peter O'Neill respectively, have between them so far less than 20 seats.

Unless there is a late and large swing when seats are finally declared, neither party will reach 30. That will mean both will have to bargain, and buy, around 30 seats drawn from minor parties and independent members to get enough votes to elect the Prime Minister.

A multi-party coalition, with independents, is inevitable, given the most unlikely outcome would be a Marape - O'Neill coalition.

A period of real political instability and uncertainty is inevitable.

This is a truly worrying state of affairs,

China will be watching closely. It will be ready to capitalise ruthlessly

That makes the current turmoil, division and hatred all the more worrying fir the people of Papua New Guinea - and Australia!