Crossword Genius

Pacific kingdom expelling a Chinese guild (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

tong

'chinese guild' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'pacific kingdom expelling a' is the wordplay.
'pacific kingdom' becomes 'tonga' (I've seen this before).
'expelling' is a deletion indicator.
'tonga' with 'a' removed is 'TONG'.

(Other definitions for tong that I've seen before include "A Chinese association, may be secret" , "Society of criminals" , "could make one's hair curl!" , "Particularly in US manipulate < secret society" , "Chinese criminal gang" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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