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Island where China holds Tibetan priest? Just the reverse (2,5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

la palma

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'island' is the definition.
(Canary island)

'china holds tibetan priest? just the reverse' is the wordplay.
'china' becomes 'pal' (china plate is Cockney rhyming slang for mate).
'holds' indicates putting letters inside.
'tibetan priest?' becomes 'amal' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'just the reverse' says the letters should be written backwards.
'amal' written backwards gives 'lama'.
'pal' going within 'lama' is 'LA PALMA'.

'where' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for la palma that I've seen before include "Island of the Canaries" , "one of the Canary Islands" , "Spanish island" , "A Canary Island" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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