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Peng Shuai denies sexual assault allegation but WTA concerns remain

December 20, 2021
Henry Club

“I’ve never spoken or written about anyone sexually assaulting me,” Peng told Singapore-based Chinese-language newspaper Lianhe Zaobao on Sunday.

Asked if she has been able to walk independently or is concerned about her safety, Peng said she has “always been free” and is staying at her home in Beijing.

The interview took place on the sidelines of the International Ski Federation’s cross-country skiing competition in Shanghai on Sunday, where Peng was also seen with Chinese basketball legend Yao Ming and two former Olympians: sailor Xu Lijia and table tennis player Wang Liqin.

Peng said there was a misunderstanding about this Since deleting a social media post On his verified account on China’s Twitter-like social media platform Weibo, which detailed the allegations on November 2.

“First of all, this is my personal privacy. There has probably been a lot of misunderstanding. So, there shouldn’t be such a distorted interpretation here,” she said.

According to screenshots from that post, the two-time Grand Slam doubles champion accused former Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli of pressuring her to have sex at his home three years ago.

The immediate response of the Chinese authorities was to censor any mention of the allegations online and block Peng’s Weibo account from search results. Peng disappeared from public view for more than two weeks, leaving the world’s biggest tennis star and United Nations Seeking answers about his whereabouts – as well as a thorough investigation into his allegations against Zhang.

Chinese officials have not accepted the sexual harassment allegations against Zhang and discussions on the subject are ongoing in China.

Amid growing global outrage, media controlled by the Chinese government and individuals working for the state’s sporting system released several “proof of life” photos and videos of Peng. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said that at least two video calls With him, adding that the Chinese tennis star “confirmed” that she was safe and sound.

In Sunday’s interview, Peng expressed her admiration for the IOC, saying she felt “very grateful” for the Olympic body and “very happy to have a video call with them.”

Peng also said that he had written an email to WTA President and CEO Steve Simon reiterating the allegations “entirely in my will”. Simon at that time questioned the legality More about the email said “We won’t be comfortable until we get a chance to speak with him.”
Analysis: Beijing is angry with the WTA for pulling out of China. But it can't tell the Chinese people about it

A WTA spokesperson told CNN on Monday: “It was great to see Peng Shuai in public again and we certainly hope she is doing well.

“As we have consistently said, these appearances do not reduce or address significant concerns about the well-being of the WTA and its ability to communicate without censorship or coercion. We call for a full, fair and transparent investigation without censorship. But we stand firm on the allegation of sexual harassment, which is the issue that raised our initial concern.”

Due to this incident WTA immediate suspension announcement As for all tournaments in China, including Hong Kong, on December 1, CEO Simon said the decision was based on an “unacceptable” response from Chinese authorities, including censoring Peng’s allegations and ignoring calls for a full and transparent investigation.
The saga comes just months before the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, an event that many western nations has said its diplomats would boycott China’s human rights record.
of china foreign ministry said The government hoped that “malicious speculation” about Peng’s well-being and whereabouts would stop and that his case should not be politicised. The ministry also said that Peng’s position was “not a diplomatic issue.”

CNN has repeatedly reached out for comment to both Peng and the State Council of China, which handles press inquiries for the central government.

As deputy prime minister, 75-year-old Zhang served with President Xi Jinping from 2012 to 2017 on the party’s seven-person Politburo Standing Committee – the country’s highest leadership body.

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