So THAT'S why they were here! Chinese soldiers are spotted loading their ships with a truckload of highly sought-after BABY FORMULA during their five-day visit to Sydney
- Chinese soldiers have been spotted loading their ships with baby formula
- Three Chinese warships made an unannounced visit to Sydney on Monday
- Chinese officials were snapped loading boxes of baby formula on Thursday
- Baby formula is a highly sought-after product in Australian supermarkets
- International demand for formula comes after the 2008 milk scandal in China
- The three warships ships sailed out of Sydney on Friday afternoon after stopover
Chinese soldiers were spotted loading their warships with baby formula during a five-day visit to Sydney.
Three Chinese warships, packed with 700 sailors, made an unannounced visit to Sydney Harbour on Monday morning.
The purpose of the visit was questioned by MPs, with sceptics saying Beijing was showing off its military might amid growing tensions in the Pacific.
But an extraordinary photo published in the The Australian suggested there was a more innocent reason for the drop-in.
It showed uniformed soldiers lugging dozens of boxes of A2 platinum and Aptamil formula into a truck which then boarded one of the ships heading back to China.
Chinese soldiers have been spotted loading their ships with baby formula after a five-day visit to Sydney
The purpose of China's visit was quickly questioned, amid heightened concern about Beijing's growing military clout. Despite the eerie presence, navy officers were snapped lugging dozens of boxes of A2 platinum and Aptamil formula aboard the ship. Pictured: Baby formula
Baby formula has been a highly sought-after product in Australian supermarkets over the last few years. Pictured: shopper fills trolley with baby formula
Australian baby formula has been a highly sought-after product in China over the last few years following a milk scandal there in 2008.
Melamine, an industrial chemical, was found in locally made milk and baby formula, leading to the deaths of six children.
Following the scandal, Chinese people turned to international markets for the formula, sparking a lucrative business for Chinese Australians who shipped the product home.
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Coles and Woolworths were forced to introduce a two-tin limit to cope with the demand after customers stacked their trolleys to the brim with the product.
The limits have not always been obeyed, with agitated customers often finding bare shelves and empty boxes sprawled along the floor.
The baby formula crisis has even led to a number of heated blow-ups in supermarket aisles were shoppers have confronted others for ignoring the limit.
The baby formula crisis follows the 2008 milk scandal in China. Melamine, an industrial chemical, was found in locally made milk and baby formula, leading to the deaths of six children. Pictured: sparse shelves at an Australian supermarket
The baby formula crisis has even led to a number of heated blow-ups in supermarket aisles were shoppers have confronted others for ignoring the limit. Pictured: chaos as shoppers scour for baby formula
Crafty shoppers and syndicate groups, known as Daigou or overseas personal shopper, sell the formula to residents in China, where they can hike the price to double the retail cost.
China's reliance on Australian baby formula is expected to decrease in the coming months after increased trade tensions with the US led China to focus on domestic production.
By improving the quality of their baby formula at home, Chinese officials hope they won't need to depend on US products as frequently.
Since China's National Development and Reform Commission released a report on their plan to improve domestic formula last week, Australian producers noticed a fall in share prices.
China's reliance on Australian baby formula is expected to decrease in the coming months after increased trade tensions with the US led China to focus on domestic production. Pictured: Chinese warships arrive in Sydney on Monday
The three Chinese warships, which were packed with 700 sailors dressed in uniform, made an unannounced visit to Sydney Harbour on Monday morning
A2 stocks fell 7.1 per cent while Bellamy recorded an 8.9 per cent drop in share prices.
The three Chinese ships sailed out of Sydney on Friday afternoon after their stopover at the Garden Island naval base.
Speaking to reporters in the Solomon Islands on Monday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the stopover had been in place for 'some time'.
He said it was a reciprocal visit after Australian naval vessels recently visited China, including HMAS Melbourne when it recently took part in 70th anniversary celebrations for the PLA Navy.
Major supermarkets Coles and Woolworths were forced to introduce a two-tin limit after customers stacked their trolleys to the brim with the product
The limits have not always been obeyed, with agitated customers often finding bare shelves and empty boxes sprawled along the floor
'It may have been a surprise to others but it certainly wasn't a surprise to the government,' Mr Morrison told reporters.
'[The Chinese vessels] were returning from counter-drug trafficking operations in the Middle East and that is a further demonstration of the relationship we have.'
'I think any reading into timing could be subject to a bit of over-analysis.'
Mr Morrison dismissed suggestions the timing is contentious, which came on the eve of the 30th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre.
The 'secret visit' came just days after it was revealed that a Chinese warship had confronted an Australian vessel in the South China Sea, with Australian helicopter pilots targeted with lasers.
It was the first time People's Liberation Army ships have visited Sydney since 2017.
The warships had arrived on the eve of the 30th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre on June 4, 1989 (Chinese warship pictured)
The three ships sailed out of Sydney on Friday afternoon after there surprise four-day stopover at the Garden Island naval base (Chinese warship pictured)
It was the first time People's Liberation Army ships have visited Sydney since 2017
