Yes, there is no doubt that the CCP will garner support from some poorer countries.

Will be interesting to see how Papua New Guinea fares in longer term

Chris,

No surprise to me.

What still matters in PNG is Big Man status and so-called national politicians will be all over each other to get their hands on Chinese cash to turn into pigs and women back in their home town.

Problem for Australia: lots of Chinese military personnel in PNG all waiting for a signal from Emperor Xi for the big push south to secure China's Lebensraum.

The devaluation required by the IMF would increase the repayment of
the Chinese loans. Looks like the Central Kingdom will take direct
control of another of its vassal states.

Chris. Agree, and we should stop the foreign aid budget to PNG until they see which side of the bead has the butter on it. This money would be better spent on rapidly arming ourselves for far better very rapid response, self-defence.
Alan B.

So sad really, ever spiraling downwards since '75 Independence - and, from my experience, Aus didn't leave PNG in such great shape even then.

'73 Self-government to '75 Independence appeared a scramble for an organized handover, but leaving many legacies of relatively unfinished business founded in so many years of paternalistic mollycoddling, failures to fully engage the wider PNG community - especially in the West, the Highlands and the islands - and a relatively disorganized foundational example of how to manage such a complex and relatively fragmented society/nation.

Scrambles to find adequate expat replacements from a relatively limited pool of appropriately qualified nationals.
A higher education system with much potential, but given insufficient time to prepare the necessary leaders for such a mammoth undertaking - of handover, of government, services, finances, social service ...
Not a total debacle, but rather a blinkered leap into the deep end.

Sir Michael was a good leader, and Sir Julius, but the wantok cultural imperative always seemed destined to dash nascent hopes of productive national development. Many eager hands quickly dissipating funds and opportunity.

So very many prospects, but cultural/tribal expectations virtually ensured a most difficult and troubled governance road.

Wonderful people, sadly let down and left to struggle. Very unfortunate.

Well course. Only 27 countries not wanting China's 'help' voted against. And, the way thing are going in Australia, we will soon be voting in favour of Communist China to get favours from them, leading to our eventual loss of sovereignty. We won't be selling our country to them, they will be taking it.