Samoa’s incoming prime minister has pledged to scrap a US$100 million Chinese-backed port development, saying it is excessive for the small Pacific island already saddled with major debts to Beijing. The move comes amid growing concerns over the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) soft power push into the South Pacific region and represents a major policy shift in the nation. Fiame Naomi Mataafa, who is set to become Samoa’s first female prime minister, said she would look to maintain good relations with the Chinese authorities but that the project was not a priority. “Samoa is a small country. Our seaports and our airports cater for our needs,” Fiame told Reuters by telephone from Apia. “It’s very difficult to imagine that we would need the scale that’s being proposed under this particular project when there are more pressing projects that the government needs to give priority to.” The proposed wharf was earmarked …