A convoy of buses and trucks speeds through the streets of Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea, with the name of a would-be politician emblazoned on them. Dozens of people are crowded on board, some grabbing onto the sides and chanting.
It is election season in PNG. It is a time of heightened passions, tensions, and security risks.
As part of his historic tour of the Pacific, Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi will fly into this part of the globe later this week.
While PNG focuses on local politics, geopolitics swirls around it.
A source told the ABC that when Wang lands in Port Moresby, he will announce a donation of 2,000 pieces of body armor and helmets for use by PNG's security forces during the election.
He is anticipated to meet with Prime Minister James Marape. However, there is no assurance that Marape would still be Prime Minister in a few months. It is an inappropriate time to visit, according to experts.
"During elections, I shall not meet with any foreign dignitaries, period. It is unnecessary, and any trips should take place following the polls," O'Neill informed ABC.
"At the same time, the incoming Australian government should cease all assistance and loans to PNG," he said.
The government of Marape denies his claim that funds are being stolen and spent on electoral campaigns. O'Neill disclosed that foreign governments should respect their laws and enable their citizens to vote freely.
The PNG populace, always cautious of political corruption, may view the Chinese visit with skepticism, whether or not this is justified.
Marape said that Wang, as a high-ranking official of the Chinese government, would be accorded "all the respect he deserves and all the formalities."
It is unknown whether any deals or agreements will be inked during Wang's visit to Papua New Guinea, as has been the case elsewhere in the Pacific. If they were, though, the upcoming election would entangle them in controversy, analysts said.
Since Papua New Guinea lacks a caretaker clause, the current government retains full power until the return of writs. However, big decisions are rarely made.
In February, when Marape and a group of ministers traveled to China, O'Neill issued a warning that any contracts inked "would be evaluated in the event of a government change."
Both Samoa and Tonga were visited by Wang on Wednesday, and Foreign Minister Penny Wong came in Samoa on Thursday.
