Peng Shuai disappearance: photos of the player posted on social networks, but doubts remain

Photos of international tennis player Peng Shuai, who disappeared on November 2 after accusing a senior Chinese official of rape, were posted on social media on Friday by a government-affiliated journalist. These pictures would have been sent by the player to a friend, through the Chinese messaging WeChat. We see her in a room playing with her cat, with a multitude of soft toys in the background, tournament accreditations, a trophy, as well as a large portrait of her hanging on the wall.

“Peng Shuai’s WeChat account posted three photos with the caption“ Have a nice weekend ”. Her friend shared the three photos and the screenshot of their publication in the “moments” section (the equivalent of stories) of WeChat, ”writes the journalist. Shen Shiwei.

An email in which she would reconsider her accusations

On Wednesday the Chinese state channel CGTN, broadcast an email attributed to Peng Shuai, who has not given any sign of life since November 2, after accusing on social networks the former Chinese vice premier Zhang Gaoli of the ‘forcing to have sex with him. The content of the email in question and the media that broadcast it, known to promote Chinese propaganda, had raised serious doubts about its authenticity.

“The information, especially concerning the accusation of sexual assault, is false,” said the player in this message. “I am neither missing nor in danger. I was just resting at home, everything is fine. Thanks again for hearing from me ”. In the past, the Communist regime has been accused of broadcasting forced confessions of suspects on the public media. The same channel CGTN had its license withdrawn in the United Kingdom at the beginning of the year for having broadcast a “confession” attributed to a British citizen arrested in China.

Women’s tennis competitions could leave China

In an interview with CNN on Thursday, Steve Simon, the boss of the WTA, the body that manages women’s tennis competitions, threatened to withdraw women’s tennis competitions from China if the country does not clear up the matter. . “We are completely ready to withdraw (from China) our activities and face all the complications that arise from it,” said the boss of women’s tennis. Across the world, athletes and anonymous have used the hashtag #WhereIsPengShuai (# WhereEstPengShuai) to demand that the truth be made about the disappearance of the player.

This Friday, the United States said they were “very concerned” about the fate of the former world number 1 in doubles. Washington calls on Beijing to provide “verifiable” and “independent” evidence regarding the athlete’s safety and whereabouts. “We know that (the Chinese government) has no tolerance for those who speak out, and a track record of silencing those who speak,” said one of the spokespersons. of the White House.

The Tokyo Olympics in peril

This disappearance could well disrupt the organization of the Beijing Winter Olympics, which are to be held from February 4 to 20, and are already facing several boycott threats. In July, Parliament passed a resolution calling for not going to the Games to denounce the plight of the Uyghur Muslim minority in the country. While on the Washington side, shortly after the diplomatic summit between the United States and China, Joe Biden said he was considering a diplomatic boycott of the Games to protest against human rights violations in the country.

–