The Chinese government has called on “certain people” to stop the “malicious hype” and “politicization” of the issue of tennis star Peng Shuai, as the international community continues to voice concerns over his well-being.
The status of Ms Peng, a former doubles world number one, has been a subject of international concern for almost three weeks after she posted a message on social media alleging that former Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli had sexually assaulted her.
State media shared photos and videos of her over the weekend and she had a video call with International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach on Sunday, but the Women’s Tennis Association and human rights organizations such as Amnesty International continued to question whether she is free and healthy.
IOC President Thomas Bach and Peng Shuai spoke via video link on Sunday. (Provided: IOC)
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a regular news briefing that Ms Peng’s situation was “not a diplomatic issue”, adding that Amnesty had “anti-China” views.
“I think everyone will have seen that she recently attended some public activities and also had a video call with IOC President Bach,” Mr Zhao said.
“I hope some people will stop the malicious hype, let alone the politicization,”
he added.
Alkan Akad, Amnesty’s China researcher, said the IOC’s video call had done little to allay fears about Ms Peng’s well-being and that the IOC was entering “dangerous waters”.
An Amnesty International spokesperson said the organization worked “independently and impartially, based on facts, and we demand that all states meet the same standards.”
On November 2, Ms. Peng posted on Chinese social media that Mr. Zhang had forced her to have sex and that they then had an on-and-off consensual relationship. The post was deleted shortly after it was published.
Olympic body accused of “collaboration” with China
Neither Mr Zhang nor the Chinese government have commented directly on Ms Peng’s allegations. The topic has been excluded from direct discussions on the Internet, which is heavily censored in China.
Global human rights organization Human Rights Watch condemned the IOC for Mr Bach’s call with Ms Peng, describing it as a “collaboration with Chinese authorities” that “undermines its expressed commitment to human rights, including the rights and safety of athletes”.
“The IOC has moved from silence on Beijing’s appalling human rights record to actively working with Chinese authorities to undermine free speech and ignore allegations of sexual assault,” said Yaqiu Wang, senior China researcher at Human Rights Watch.
“The IOC appears to value its relationship with a major human rights violator more than the rights and safety of Olympic athletes.
“If the IOC wants to credibly claim to be a ‘force for good,’ it must stop participating in the Chinese government’s repressive practices.”
The United States, France, Britain and tennis players including Naomi Osaka, Serena Williams and Billie Jean King have all expressed concerns about Ms Peng, a former Olympian.
This comes as Beijing prepares to host the Winter Olympics next February.
International rights groups and others have called for a boycott of the Games because of China’s human rights record.
Reuters
