Tennis player Peng Shuai: a “maliciously exaggerated topic” for China

For the first time, a government representative from China has officially commented on the case of the missing tennis star Peng and harshly criticized the international sensation. The allegations against Beijing are “malicious and politicizing”.

The Chinese government has criticized international attention over the disappearance of tennis player Peng Shuai. “I think some people should end their malicious allegations and not politicize this matter,” said Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian. It was to be expected that international journalists would ask about Peng Shuai at the Foreign Ministry’s press conference in Beijing. Likewise, the reaction of the spokesman for the Chinese state and party leadership: It is not a diplomatic matter.

Matter “maliciously exaggerated”

It was the first time that a government official officially commented on the case. Zhao Lijian then pointed out that the 35-year-old had done some public activities. She attended public events and spoke to the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, via video telephony. “We hope that sites in question will stop deliberately and maliciously exaggerating the matter,” he says.

But both the videos with Peng Shuai’s appearances and the conversation with the IOC president have been heavily criticized. Many observers firmly believe that Peng Shuai was forced to perform. It is by no means proof that she is doing well.

The IOC had announced that Bach had spoken to the tennis player. She said she was safe. It remained open whether her #MeToo allegations or possible pressure from Chinese authorities on the 35-year-old were addressed. According to the IOC, she said she was living well in her Beijing home and that her privacy should be respected.

Allegation of sexual coercion

In early November, Peng Shuai accused a high-ranking ex-politician on the Weibo social network of forcing her to have sex. First, her post was deleted by the censorship of the Chinese state and party leadership. Then the tennis player disappeared from the public for several weeks.

The case caused a sensation worldwide. The Global Athlete sports association accused the IOC of “complicity in the vicious propaganda of the Chinese authorities and their lack of interest in basic human rights and justice”. The affair about the world-class doubles player brings the IOC just under two and a half months before the Olympic Winter Games in Beijing (February 4th to 20th) in dire straits. China is already under criticism for violating human rights.

Many professional athletes have clearly stood behind Peng Shuai, as has the World Women’s Tennis Federation. Human rights organizations like Amnesty International also demand that Peng Shuai speak freely without pressure.