Is China Censoring Tennis Player Peng Shuai Over Her Rape Claim?

On Nov. 2, Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai, 35, accused China’s former vice premier, Zhang Gaoli, of sexual assault back in 2017 via Weibo, a Chinese social media app. The post was swiftly deleted, and Peng Shuai seemed to disappear from public view. The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), World Tennis Association, and prominent members of the tennis community took to social media to demand proof of life and raise awareness on Peng Shuai’s absence.

Staged Situations Drive Concerns

Tennis players such as Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka, along with WTA CEO Steve Simon, are demanding a full investigation into Peng’s absence from the public scene and media as well as into her claims of rape.

Last week, CGTN, a state-owned TV outlet, posted an email online supposedly sent from Peng Shuai to Simon, but he said the email only furthered his concerns about the tennis player's well-being. The email did not reflect the genuine nature of her allegations. Simon, in response, threatened to pull all planned tournaments in China unless authorities provide evidence that Peng Shuai is safe and her allegations are being taken seriously.

Simon is not the only one skeptical of the authenticity of the posts shared by Chinese media. Sophia Richardson, the China director at Human Rights Watch, said that unless Peng Shuai appears in public “clearly speaking freely,” the organization will remain displeased.

Another state-affiliated media source shared photos Peng posted in WeChat in response, but it failed to assuage growing concerns.

https://twitter.com/shen_shiwei/status/1461715435385020419?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1461715435385020419%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sbnation.com%2F2021%2F11%2F22%2F22796458%2Fpeng-shuai-china-censored-sexual-assault-allegation

This past weekend, efforts by Chinese media to display Peng’s safety shifted into full gear. Videos of her at a restaurant, oddly repeating the date and plans she has for the coming days, were shared by Chinese media outlets. The staged video showing Peng Shuai with her management in a local Beijing restaurant was posted on Twitter by government-controlled Chinese media personalities.

https://twitter.com/HuXijin_GT/status/1462075117266096135?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1462075117266096135%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.yahoo.com%2Fentertainment%2Fwta-chair-steve-simon-still-200112566.html

Following that, Peng Shuai appeared at a tennis event in China with children. However, no one seems convinced that Peng was not being forced to participate in the videos, photos, and events shared over the last week. The CCP may have mastered censorship at home, but spewing its propaganda-machine messages abroad cannot withstand international scrutiny.

Where Loyalties Lie

The U.S. government, tennis fans and players, the WTA, the United Nations, and the American public remain adamantly dissatisfied with the Chinese government’s handling of the situation and manipulation of Peng Shuai’s movements. The International Olympic Committee (IOC), on the other hand, shockingly claims everything is all fine and well. The IOC has refused to halt the Beijing Olympics despite active genocide in China against Uyghur Muslims, as well as a multitude of other human rights violations.

IOC President Thomas Bach video-chatted with Peng this week. The conversation was not broadcast and CNN was not allowed to access the video. The IOC swiftly released a statement in an attempt to convince all those concerned that it believes everything is fine. But some question whether the IOC’s opinion should be held in the highest regard.

Emma Terho, chair of the Olympic Athlete Commission, shared in a statement: “I was relieved to see that Peng Shuai was doing fine, which was our main concern … she appeared to be relaxed. I offered her our support and to stay in touch at any time of her convenience.”

Of course, there was no mention of Peng Shuai’s media post or allegations of sexual assault. There was no assurance about Peng’s access to human rights resources, legal assistance, or mental health support. No surprise there. The IOC also has ignored calls to cancel the Winter Beijing Olympics because of China’s human rights violations in Hong Kong, Tibet, and Xinjiang.

~ Read more from Keelin Ferris.