The disappearance of the Chinese women’s star will cheer up the sports elite

Tennis star Peng Shuai disappeared this month after accusing former Chinese prime minister of sexual abuse. Two weeks later, he is still missing as the leading figures in the sport joined forces with legal activists and #MeToo campaigns to find him.

In early November, the 35-year-old athlete publicly published on social media, claiming that Zhang Gaoli attacked him at least once in Tianjin, a city where he was a leader of the Chinese Communist Party from 2007-2012.

He also claimed in a message that was erased by the sensor within minutes of its publication that he had a long-standing relationship with a powerful political figure 40 years older and married. The Financial Times could not confirm Peng’s message.

The case raises unpleasant questions about the Chinese Communist Party’s achievements in women’s rights and civil liberties less than three months before the Winter Olympics.

It is common for a party’s disciplinary body to accuse senior officials of vague words about sexual and other misconduct while cleaning up, usually on allegations of corruption. But the detailed allegations against Zhang, who retired without a stain on his official record in 2018, are unprecedented in China, especially as made by a woman like Peng.

“This is an exceptional case,” said Yaqiu Wang, a Chinese expert on the U.S. campaign group Human Rights Watch.

Although Peng has not been seen or heard since its release, his disappearance received worldwide attention. His case was brought back into the spotlight this week after China State Broadcasting Corporation (CGTN) issued a statement quoting Peng as saying he was resting at home and was not missing or ill.

The statement sparked immediate skepticism from many who said it was either fake or coerced. “No one thinks he’s safe now,” said Yun Jiang, a Chinese expert at the Australian National University.

Just hours later, Steve Simon, CEO of the Women’s Tennis Association, said he had not been able to contact Peng and insisted that this be allowed to speak freely.

Simon questioned the authenticity of the email and demanded that his allegations be “fully investigated and uncensored.” The WTA is hosting 11 tournaments in China, with a quarter of the world’s 87-meter tennis players.

The Government Information Office, which handles media relations on behalf of the government, did not respond to the request for comment. Zhang and Peng could not be reached for comment.

On Friday, Hu Xijin, a global Times reporter for the nationalist Chinese state media, tweeted: “As a man familiar with the Chinese system, I do not think Peng Shuai has received the revenge and speculation that the foreign media is speculating about.”

Peng is one of a handful of Chinese tennis players who have risen to the international stage in the last two decades and won a doubles championship at both the Wimbledon and French Open.

Naomi Osaka, four-time Grand Slam champion and world’s highest paid female athlete, Novak Djokovic, men’s number one, Serena Williams, most Grand Slam tournament winner and Chris Evert, broadcaster and former number one. -placed player, joined this week in calls defending Peng’s safety.

“I think the WTA does.. Choose life over money… Human rights, dignity come first… I pray for Peng, Evert wrote on Twitter.

I am shocked and upset to hear my peer Sheng news from my peer. I hope he is safe and found as soon as possible. This must be investigated and we must not be silent. Send love to him and his family during this incredibly difficult time. #whereispengshuai pic.twitter.com/GZG3zLTSC6

– Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) November 18, 2021

Wang of Human Rights Watch said that while he was “not so optimistic” about Peng’s future, given China’s long history of forced disappearances and forced confessions, he believed the support could help Peng’s cause.

“International attention will certainly make the Communist Party more cautious about what they want to do with Peng Shua,” he said.

However, the episode has already demonstrated the overwhelming power of Chinese censorship to remove signs of public disagreement.

When Peng released his accusations on his official Weibo account, the message and comments about it were quickly blocked, even though screenshots of it spread widely. Censors then blocked both open and coded references to Peng and Zhang.

People who tried to comment on Peng or Zhang online received messages saying their posts “violated relevant laws and regulations.”

Zhang joined the most influential body of the Chinese Communist Party, the Politburo Standing Committee, in 2012. He was appointed deputy prime minister a year later.

Peng’s case is the latest sign that the # MeToo movement to combat discrimination and sexual harassment of women has not gained momentum in China as it did in the United States and Europe, where similar accusations ended the careers of many well-known entertainment, business and political figures. figures.

Men who are far less powerful than Zhang have routinely been able to refute such accusations in China, often through state censorship and party-controlled courts.

In September, a Beijing court dismissed significant allegations of sexual harassment by screenwriter Zhou Xiaoxuan against a prominent media figure. In one of the movement’s most significant cases, the court said there was not enough evidence to support his claims.

A Chinese-based women’s rights activist who asked not to be named said she expected Peng to eventually have to make a public withdrawal and be “buried” forever on social media.

She said that while it may be possible for women to sue in public against celebrities or businessmen, senior party officials are not subject to restrictions.

Yun of the Australian National University said Peng had shown “a lot of courage” in making his claim. “Against a senior [party] an official can ruin anyone’s life. “

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