One of China’s biggest sporting stars, Peng Shuai has not been heard from since she made sexual assault allegations against a top Chinese official.
Chinese state media release email attributed to Peng Shuai raises concerns
Chinese authorities have squelched virtually all online discussion of sexual assault accusations apparently made by the Chinese professional tennis star against a former top government official — former Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli on Chinese social media site Weibo in early November.
She alleged she was “forced” into sexual relations with Zhang – who served as the country’s Vice Premier between 2013 and 2018 and was a close ally of China’s leader Xi Jinping – in a post that was later taken down. She has not been seen or heard from publicly since.
Her allegation is the highest profile incident in China’s fledgling #MeToo movement. It comes just months before China hosts the Winter Olympics.
She hasn’t been seen in public nor heard from in weeks. Now an email appears.
‘Everything was fine’ and she is ‘resting at home’ is what the 35 year old reportedly typed. The language appears flippant.
The image released by the state controlled TV network CGTN appears to be a screenshot, with a cursor hovering on the page. All of which has raised immediate suspicions about its authenticity.
Doubt cast on email from Chinese tennis star
BEIJING (AP) — The head of the women’s professional tennis tour is questioning the legitimacy of a retraction Chinese state media says was from a Grand Slam doubles champion who has accused a former top government official of sexual assault.
The head of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) has cast doubt on an email released by Chinese state media attributed to tennis player Peng Shuai.
Steve Simon, chairman of the WTA, said in a statement he had a “hard time believing” the email was written by Ms Peng or on her behalf.
“only raises my concerns as to her safety and whereabouts.”
Peng is a 35-year-old from China and a former No. 1-ranked player in women’s doubles.
She won titles at Wimbledon in 2013 and the French Open in 2014.
She wrote in a lengthy social media post earlier this month that a former vice premier had forced her to have sex despite repeated refusals.
Since going public, Peng has not been seen in public. China has also blocked the story from the internet in the country.
Broadcaster CGTN published the correspondence – allegedly written by Ms Peng – online. Written in her voice, it claims she was not missing or unsafe, adding: “I’ve just been resting at home and everything is fine.”
The email also said the sexual assault allegation attributed to her was false.
Several high-profile tennis players have spoken out about Peng’s safety.
In a statement on Twitter, Naomi Osaka said, “Censorship is never ok at any cost,” Osaka said. “I hope Peng Shuai and her family are safe and ok.”
On Nov. 14, tennis icon Billie Jean King said, “Hoping that Peng Shuai is found safe and that her accusations are fully investigated.”