Breaking News-RTRS-China doubles domestic soy purchase, buys more rice

BEIJING, Jan 12 (Reuters) - China will double its purchases of domestic soybeans by buying an additional 3 million tonnes for state reserves in a bid to shore up domestic prices, according to an official annoucement posted on a government Web site on Monday.
China's earlier purchases had prompted many crushers shift to cheap U.S imports.
The government will also expand its purchases of rice, buying an additional 5 million tonnes of rice for reserves, according to the statement posted on the central government Web site (http://www.gov.cn/gzdt/2009-01/12/content_1202534.htm).