European shock about billion heading for China? (9)
I believe the answer is:
eastbound
'heading for china?' is the definition.
(China is in the east)
'european shock about billion' is the wordplay.
'european' becomes 'E' (abbreviation e.g. EU).
'shock' becomes 'astound' (to astound is to shock or surprise).
'about' is an insertion indicator.
'billion' becomes 'b'.
'astound' placed around 'b' is 'astbound'.
'e'+'astbound'='EASTBOUND'
(Other definitions for eastbound that I've seen before include "Moving toward the orient" , "heading for the orient" , "as in A Passage to India?" .)