Fears grow for missing Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai after email raises suspicions
Global News
Peng Shuai claimed on social media that she was sexually assaulted by former Chinese vice premier Zhang Gaoli, but her post was quickly deleted and she has not been seen since.
Fears are intensifying about the safety of a Chinese tennis star after the head of the women’s professional tennis tour questioned the legitimacy of an email released by Chinese state media that they attributed to the tennis player.
Peng Shuai, 35, posted on Chinese social media site Weibo earlier this month, alleging sexual assault by former Chinese vice premier Zhang Gaoli, but her post was quickly deleted and she has not been seen publicly since.
China’s state-owned television broadcaster, CGTN, released an email Wednesday morning, claiming it was written by Shuai, after concerns began mounting for her safety. The email was written in her voice and claims she is not missing or in harm’s way: “I’ve just been resting at home and everything is fine.”
Women’s Tennis Association Chairman Steve Simon shared a statement later that day confirming he had read the email, but asked for more proof that it was written by Shuai.
“The statement released today by Chinese state media… only raises my concerns as to her safety and whereabouts. I have a hard time believing that Peng Shuai actually wrote the email we received or believe what is being attributed to her,” he said.
“The WTA and the rest of the world need independent and verifiable proof that she is safe. I have repeatedly tried to reach her via numerous forms of communication, to no avail.”
As the overseas arm of state broadcaster CCTV, CGTN is among the numerous propaganda tools put in place by the ruling Communist Party. It has been sanctioned on numerous occasions by British TV regulator Ofcom for airing forced confessions by a British businessman, a Hong Kong bookseller and an employee of the UK consulate in Hong Kong.
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