The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Video of missing Chinese tennis star posted online
Missing tennis star Peng Shuai reappeared in public yesterday at a youth tournament in Beijing, according to photos released by the organiser, as the ruling Communist Party tried to quell fears about Peng after she accused a senior leader of sexual assault.
The China Open’s post on the Weibo social media service made no mention of Peng’s disappearance or her accusation.
Peng’s appearance followed an announcement on Saturday by the editor of a party newspaper on Twitter, which cannot be seen by most internet users in China, that the threetime Olympian would “show up in public” soon.
The ruling party appears to be trying to defuse alarm about Peng, after the former Wimbledon and Paris Open champion this month accused Zhang Gaoli – a member of the party’s ruling Standing Committee until 2018 – of forcing her to have sex.
Peng’s disappearance and the government’s silence in response to appeals for information prompted calls for a boycott of the Winter Olympics in Beijing in February, a prestige event for the Communist Party.
The women’s professional tour threatened to pull events out of China unless Peng’s safety was assured.
Discussion of her accusation has been deleted from websites in China, and a government spokesman on Friday denied knowing about the outcry.
Peng adds to a growing number of Chinese people who have disappeared in recent years after criticising party figures or in crackdowns on corruption or pro-democracy and labour rights campaigns.
Some re-emerge weeks or months later without explanation.
Tennis stars and the WTA have been unusually vocal in demanding information about Peng – other companies and sports groups are reluctant to confront Beijing for fear of losing access to the Chinese market or other retaliation.
Steve Simon, the WTA’S chairman and chief executive, expressed concern for Peng’s safety.
“This video alone is insufficient,” he said.
“Our relationship with China is at a crossroads.”
Our relationship with China isata crossroads