A cutter observed going to China, maybe (8)
'a cutter' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'observed going to china maybe' is the wordplay.
'observed' becomes 'saw' (seen).
'going to' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'maybe' indicates an anagram.
'china' anagrammed gives 'chain'.
'saw' after 'chain' is 'CHAINSAW'.
(Other definitions for chainsaw that I've seen before include "Tree-lopper's tool" , "Powered cutter" , "Power tool" , "powered device" , "woodcutter?" .)
'a cutter' is the definition.
(I have seen 'Motorised cutter' mean 'chain saw' so perhaps 'cutter' could also mean 'chain saw')
'observed going to china maybe' is the wordplay.
'observed' becomes 'saw' (seen).
'going to' says to put letters next to each other.
'maybe' is an anagram indicator.
'china' with letters rearranged gives 'chain'.
'saw' put after 'chain' is 'CHAIN-SAW'.