{"id":73614,"date":"2021-11-21T14:44:00","date_gmt":"2021-11-21T14:44:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/en.bornomalanews.com\/?p=73614"},"modified":"2021-11-21T14:44:00","modified_gmt":"2021-11-21T14:44:00","slug":"missing-chinese-tennis-star-reappears-in-public-in-beijing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/en.bornomalanews.com\/?p=73614","title":{"rendered":"Missing Chinese tennis star reappears in public in Beijing"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Sports Desk:<\/strong> Missing tennis star Peng Shuai reappeared in public Sunday at a youth tournament in Beijing, according to photos released by the organizer, as the ruling Communist Party tried to quell fears abroad while suppressing information in China about Peng after she accused a senior leader of sexual assault.<\/p>\n

The post by the China Open on the Weibo social media service made no mention of Peng\u2019s disappearance or her accusation. Peng was shown standing beside a court, waving and signing oversize commemorative tennis balls for children.<\/p>\n

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The appearance followed an announcement by the editor of a party newspaper Saturday on Twitter, which can\u2019t be seen by most internet users in China, that the three-time Olympian would \u201cshow up in public\u201d soon.<\/p>\n

The ruling party appears to be trying to defuse alarm about Peng without acknowledging her disappearance after the former Wimbledon and Paris Open champion this month accused Zhang Gaoli, a member of the party\u2019s ruling Standing Committee until 2018, of forcing her to have sex.<\/p>\n

Peng\u2019s disappearance and the government\u2019s 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\u2019s professional tour threatened to pull events out of China unless the safety of the former No. 1 doubles player was assured.<\/p>\n

Discussion of Peng\u2019s accusation has been deleted from websites in China. A government spokesman on Friday denied knowing about the outcry. The ruling party\u2019s internet filters also block most people in China from seeing other social media abroad and most global news outlets.<\/p>\n

Comments on Chinese social media on Sunday criticized the Women\u2019s Tennis Association and others who spoke up about Peng, while comments in Chinese on Twitter poked fun at the awkward release of photos and video.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen will the WTA get out of China?\u201d said a comment on the Sina Weibo social media service, signed \u201cSleep Time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Peng adds to a growing number of Chinese businesspeople, activists and ordinary people who have disappeared in recent years after criticizing party figures or in crackdowns on corruption or pro-democracy and labor rights campaigns.<\/p>\n

Some re-emerge weeks or months later without explanation, suggesting they are warned not to disclose they were detained or the reason.<\/p>\n

The editor of the party newspaper Global Times, Hu Xijin, wrote Saturday on Twitter that Peng \u201cstayed in her own home freely\u201d and would \u201cshow up in public and participate in some activities soon.\u201d<\/p>\n

The English-language Global Times, aimed at foreign readers, is known for its nationalistic tone. Hu uses his Twitter account to criticize foreign governments and point out social and economic problems abroad.<\/p>\n

A comment on Twitter signed bobzhang999 said, \u201cHu Dog, with so many photos, why don\u2019t you let Peng Shuai talk?\u201d<\/p>\n

Another, signed Magician, said, \u201cLet Peng Shuai\u2019s parents hold a news conference.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The ruling party has given no indication whether it is investigating Peng\u2019s accusation against Gao, 75, who left the Standing Committee in 2018 and has largely disappeared from public life.<\/p>\n

Even if Peng\u2019s accusation is deemed valid, people in China often are jailed or face other penalties for embarrassing the party by publicizing complaints about abuses instead of going through the secretive, often unresponsive official system.<\/p>\n

The status of star athletes such as Peng is especially sensitive. State media celebrate their victories as proof the party is making China strong. But the party is vigilant about making sure they cannot use their prominence and public appeal to erode its image.<\/p>\n

Steve Simon, the WTA\u2019s chairman and CEO, expressed concern for Peng\u2019s safety after Hu posted two videos Saturday that appeared to show her in a restaurant.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile it is positive to see her, it remains unclear if she is free and able to make decisions and take actions on her own, without coercion or external interference. This video alone is insufficient,\u201d Simon said. \u201dOur relationship with China is at a crossroads.\u201d<\/p>\n

The International Olympic Committee has remained quiet about the status of Peng, who competed in three Olympics, helping to contribute to the IOC\u2019s multimillion-dollar revenue from broadcasting and sponsorships.<\/p>\n

Emma Terho, the newly elected head of the IOC\u2019s Athletes\u2019 Commission that is charged with representing the interests of Olympic athletes, said in a statement Saturday \u201cwe support the quiet diplomacy\u201d approach favored by the IOC.<\/p>\n

Last week, the foreign arm of state TV issued a statement in English attributed to Peng that retracted her accusation against Zhang. The WTA\u2019s Simon questioned its legitimacy while others said it only increased their concern about her safety.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sports Desk: Missing tennis star Peng Shuai reappeared in public Sunday at a youth tournament in Beijing, according to photos released by the organizer, as the ruling Communist Party tried to quell fears abroad while suppressing information in China about Peng after she accused a senior leader of sexual assault. The post by the China […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":73615,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[8],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\t\n