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Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai, whose whereabouts has been of international concern for weeks after reporting sexual assault by a senior Chinese official, attended a tennis tournament in Beijing on Sunday, November 21, according to official photos from the event organized by the China Open. It would be an attempt by the communist party to silence the claims from abroad where doubts are still raised about whether the athlete is being coerced.
A comeback orchestrated by the Chinese Communist Party? After almost three weeks of being unaccounted for, the prominent tennis player Peng Shuai was shown this Sunday, November 21, at a tournament organized by the China Open, in the Haidian district, north of Beijing.
The athlete can be seen among the guests at the final of a children’s tournament, greeting and signing tennis balls to some children, according to photos and a short video published on the official website of the event without her voice being heard.
The images were republished by the Twitter account of Hu Xijin, editor of the Global Times newspaper, controlled by the communist rulers and edited in English, but not on the official website of the media outlet.
Although Twitter is banned in China, it can be accessed through a connection abroad (VPN) and Xjin is the same person who a day before broadcast another video supposedly recorded on Saturday, November 20, in which the athlete is seen having dinner together to a group of friends in a restaurant.
Can any girl fake such sunny smile under pressure? Those who suspect Peng Shuai is under duress, how dark they must be inside. There must be many many forced political performances in their countries. pic.twitter.com/2oDOghBTvA
– Hu Xijin 胡锡 进 (@HuXijin_GT) November 21, 2021
The ruling party seems to be trying to defuse the international alarm about the disappearance of the renowned tennis player, of whom nothing was known since last November 2, she denounced, in a letter published on networks, that she was sexually abused by him in the past. Former Deputy Prime Minister of his country, Zhang Gaoli, 75 years old.
The images began to appear this weekend right in the middle of the international uproar. Important international sports organizations, the United States and the United Kingdom have requested proof of her whereabouts and advocate for the safety of the tennis player.
France warns China “diplomatic consequences”
Despite the spread of images, Peng Shuai has not spoken independently so far, so some fear that she is not really acting in complete freedom and is being pressured.
The Chinese authorities must allow tennis player Peng Shuai to “speak”, otherwise France will undertake “diplomatic consequences”, Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said in the last hours.
“On this worrying matter, I am only waiting for one thing, and that is for Miss Peng Shuai to speak,” the minister said in response to a question about the Chinese tennis star.
Shuai joins a growing number of Chinese businessmen, activists and citizens who have disappeared in recent years after criticizing Communist Party figures or advocating for democracy and labor rights.
Some reappear weeks or months later without explanation, suggesting that they are being warned not to reveal that they were detained or why.
I acquired two video clips, which show Peng Shuai was having dinner with her coach and friends in a restaurant. The video content clearly shows they are shot on Saturday Beijing time. pic.twitter.com/HxuwB5TfBk
– Hu Xijin 胡锡 进 (@HuXijin_GT) November 20, 2021
For the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), the images published this Sunday remain “insufficient” and do not address concerns about Shuai’s situation, according to a spokesman for the organization founded in London.
“While it is positive to see her, it is not clear if she is free and capable of making decisions and acting on her own, without coercion or outside interference. This video alone is insufficient (…) Our relationship with China is at a crossroads, “said Steve Simon, president and CEO of the WTA, on Saturday, when the first photos were released.
For its part, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) indicated that it would continue to seek confirmation that Peng is safe. “Our primary concern is Peng Shuai’s safety and well-being,” said ITF President Dave Haggerty.
They threaten to boycott the Winter Olympics, due to the case of Peng Shuai
World tennis bodies such as the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) have threatened to withdraw their tournaments from China. The United States and the United Kingdom have requested proof of Peng’s whereabouts and safety.
The situation has also prompted calls from human rights organizations and others to boycott the Winter Olympics, which China will host in February, a highly prestigious event for the Communist Party.
The status of elite athletes like Peng Shuai is a particularly sensitive issue in the country. The state media celebrate their victories as proof that the party strengthens the nation, but at the same time the communists make sure that athletes cannot use their public appeal to affect the image of the rulers.
The Chinese government has not indicated that it will investigate the allegations of sexual abuse that the athlete made against Gao.
Even if Shuai’s allegations were deemed valid by the authorities, citizens in that country are usually imprisoned or face penalties for shaming the official system.
Information about the tennis player’s complaint has also been removed from China’s websites, and the ruling party’s internet filters also prevent most people in the country from viewing other social networks abroad, as well as most of the international media.
With Reuters and AP
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