Dive Brief:

• Amazon subsidiary Quidsi, which runs Diapers.com and other online stores, has applied to have an online storefront at Alibaba’s Tmall Global marketplace, according to Alibaba.

• Amazon has its own China subsidiary, but is also trying to take advantage of Alibaba’s new global Tmall branch, which as of last February is a way for retailers outside China to sell to Chinese consumers.

• Since offering shipments to China last year, Diapers.com has seen more than 12% of its business come from there, second only to the U.S. in terms of traffic.

Dive Insight:

This looks like a “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em” move. But it may be motivated more by the same thing that leads bank robbers to rob banks — it’s where the money is. With Alibaba making it so easy for retailers from all over to sell to Chinese consumers, who are increasingly discovering the convenience and joys of online shopping, why shouldn’t Amazon be one of them?