Chinese media claims tennis participant Peng Shuai has denied sexual assault allegations

On December 19, Chinese media claimed that the Tennis participant Peng Shuai denied accusing anybody of sexually assaulting her. In a short 8-minute interview with Singapore-based Chinese-language newspaper Lianhe Zaobao, Peng stated she had been residing at her home in Beijing and claimed there was no restriction on her motion in any method.
Chinese govt mouthpiece’s reporter stated Peng was seen in public
On Sunday, earlier than the interview with Lianhe Zaobao obtained printed, Chen Qingqing, a Chinese mouthpiece Global Times reporter, tweeted footage and some pictures of Peng wherein she was seen speaking to Yao Ming, a well-known Chinese Basketball participant. Chen claimed that the video was despatched to her by a “friend”. They stated the video was allegedly taken throughout an occasion in Shanghai.
So completely satisfied to see a few of these distinguished Chinese sports activities stars, in addition to Yao Ming and Peng Shuai, additionally, Olympic crusing champion Xu Lijia and desk tennis Wang Liqin, cheer for ice sports activities forward of @Beijing2022 pic.twitter.com/3xP5CyrPhX— Qingqing_Chen (@qingqingparis) December 19, 2021
In the picture that Chen posted, Peng was seen with Yao, Olympic crusing champion Xu Lijia and retired desk tennis participant Wang Liqin. There was a banner subsequent to them that learn, “FIS Cross-Country Skiing China City Tour”, and Shanghai’s Yangpu bridge was within the background.
‘I did not accuse anyone of sexual assault’
Reports recommend that the e-mail she had despatched to Steve Simon, President of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), assuring him of her well-being was completed “by herself of her own free will”. This was the primary time Peng had spoken in regards to the matter herself. Notably, she had made a social media publish in November accusing the previous vice-premier Zhang Gaoli of sexually assaulting her. Later the publish was deleted, and he or she disappeared.
When she was requested in regards to the allegations she had made within the now-deleted publish by the Chinese web censors inside minutes of posting it, she stated she by no means accused anybody of sexually assaulting her. She stated, “First, I would like to stress a very important point: I have never said nor written anything accusing anyone of sexually assaulting me. I would like to emphasise this point very clearly. Regarding Weibo, first of all, it’s a matter related to my personal privacy. Everyone has had many misunderstandings. Their misreadings do not stand.”
‘I have always been very free’
During the interview, she was requested if she was beneath any sort of surveillance, she stated, “Why would that be the case? I have always been very free.” The report talked about that whereas answering this explicit query, she was a bit hesitant.
She stated the letter was written by herself in Chinese, however the Chinese mouthpiece CGTN had printed a translated model of the letter in English. She stated, “What was conveyed (by CGTN) was no different from what I meant to convey to Mr Simon.” She was additionally requested in regards to the video name she had made to Thomas Bach, head of the International Olympic Committee, final month. She stated, “The video call took place at my home in Beijing.” She added that she was grateful to everybody who expressed issues about her properly being.
‘Peng’s appearence has not eased issues about her’
The Women’s Tennis Association in a current assertion stated that Peng Shuai’s newest look has not eased issues about her. In an e mail assertion to AFP, the group stated, “We remain steadfast in our call for a full, fair and transparent investigation, without censorship, into her allegation of sexual assault.”
#BREAKING The Women’s Tennis Association says Peng Shuai’s newest look has not eased issues about her, after a video emerged of the Chinese tennis star denying accusing anybody of sexual assault pic.twitter.com/g3vukNKfbp— AFP News Agency (@AFP) December 20, 2021
Yaqiu Wang, China researcher at Human Rights Watch, whereas quoting the Reuter’s report on the interview stated, “So, after 48 days, Peng Shuai unexpectedly encountered a journalist from a pro-Beijing newspaper and then casually answered her questions about an event that gandered intense international attention. Wow, so natural, very real, everyone now believes it. Congratulations, the CCP!”
So, after 48 days, Peng Shuai unexpectedly encountered a journalist from a pro-Beijing newspaper after which casually answered her questions on an occasion that gandered intense worldwide consideration. Wow, so pure, very actual, everybody now believes it. Congratulations, the CCP! https://t.co/qBgw8Ob3ib— Yaqiu Wang 王亚秋 (@Yaqiu) December 19, 2021
Peng and her disappearance
35-year-old Peng is a Wimbledon and French Open doubles champion. In November, she printed a prolonged publish on the Chinese social media platform Weibo. In the publish, she accused Chinese former premier Zhang Gaoli of sexual assault. Her publish was censored inside minutes. Her verified social media account was deactivated as properly. However, by then, the publish was grabbed the eye of the worldwide media.
Later she disappeared from public view that raised issues about her properly being on the worldwide stage. United Nations, the White House, sportsperson and activists got here ahead and made statements in regards to the disappearance.
After the matter gained worldwide consideration, the Chinese state media obtained into motion to show she didn’t disappear. Photos and movies discovered their method to social media networks, together with these which might be banned in China. Though Peng was seen in a junior tennis occasion, there have been speculations that she was beneath surveillance as she didn’t discuss to anybody. Photos of her having fun with time at her dwelling have been additionally shared by the Chinese state media.