I totally agree Chinese investment is the most likely scenario...

I totally agree Chinese investment is the most likely scenario if Manono is to be developed.
If not them, then there is minimal chance of it happening at all, wouldn't you agree?

Given the Chinese Gov exercises a fair degree of control on foreign investment and intervenes directly with industry policy quite a bit, could they not organise little to no bidding war on the project and then see it picked up cheaply in a year or two? That would be my best guess for how the Chinese will play it out. It certainly is another risk factor to consider and makes one wonder whether holding with all other associated risks becomes worthwhile if a cheap takeover is the most likely scenario.

The Chinese are certainly monitoring the project and given its size most certainly at a central government level. They are also involved in infrastructure in the region - but I don't think they see much competition to obtain the project from outside China. Do you?