The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) on Sunday broke its silence about Chinese player Peng Shuai (彭帥), who has reportedly been missing for the past 10 days after making allegations of sexual abuse against a senior politician.
In a statement, the WTA called for the allegations to be “investigated fully, fairly, transparently and without censorship.”
Peng, 35, who won the Wimbledon and the French Open women’s doubles titles with Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei (謝淑薇), has been erased from Chinese Internet and social media sites since accusing former Chinese vice premier Zhang Gaoli (張高麗) of rape on her Sina Weibo account.
Photo: Reuters
It is the first time that the #MeToo movement has reached the highest echelons of the Chinese Communist Party.
“The recent events in China concerning a WTA player, Peng Shuai, are of deep concern,” WTA chairman Steve Simon said.
“As an organization dedicated to women, we remain committed to the principles we were founded on — equality, opportunity and respect,” he said. “Peng Shuai, and all women, deserve to be heard, not censored. Her accusation about the conduct of a former Chinese leader involving a sexual assault must be treated with the utmost seriousness.”
“We expect this issue to be handled properly, meaning the allegations must be investigated fully, fairly, transparently and without censorship. Our absolute and unwavering priority is the health and safety of our players. We are speaking out so justice can be done,” he said.
Asked to respond to the mounting questions, Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Zhao Lijian (趙立堅) said: “I have not heard of the issue you raised.”
“This is not a diplomatic question,” he added.
Simon told the New York Times on Sunday that no one at the Tour has talked directly to Peng, but that he had received assurances from the Chinese Tennis Association that she was safe “and not under any physical threat.”
Release of the statement followed considerable criticism of the WTA’s silence as fans and players, including 18-time Grand Slam winner Chris Evert, rallied online around the hashtag #WhereIsPengShuai.
“Yes, these accusations are very disturbing,” Evert wrote on Twitter. “I’ve known Peng since she was 14; we should all be concerned; this is serious; where is she? Is she safe? Any information would be appreciated.”
The hashtag was also used on Saturday by French player Alize Cornet, who said: “Let’s not remain silent,” and British Davis Cup player Liam Broady, who on Sunday wrote: “I can’t believe that this is even happening in the 21st century.”
Hundreds of others have used the hashtag to ask the same question, amid the continued silence of the International Tennis Federation.
“The fact that Peng Shuai is missing is not only the WTA’s problem. We are all concerned,” another French player, Nicolas Mahut, wrote on Twitter.
SECURITY: As China is ‘reshaping’ Hong Kong’s population, Taiwan must raise the eligibility threshold for applications from Hong Kongers, Chiu Chui-cheng said When Hong Kong and Macau citizens apply for residency in Taiwan, it would be under a new category that includes a “national security observation period,” Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said yesterday. President William Lai (賴清德) on March 13 announced 17 strategies to counter China’s aggression toward Taiwan, including incorporating national security considerations into the review process for residency applications from Hong Kong and Macau citizens. The situation in Hong Kong is constantly changing, Chiu said to media yesterday on the sidelines of the Taipei Technology Run hosted by the Taipei Neihu Technology Park Development Association. With
CARROT AND STICK: While unrelenting in its military threats, China attracted nearly 40,000 Taiwanese to over 400 business events last year Nearly 40,000 Taiwanese last year joined industry events in China, such as conferences and trade fairs, supported by the Chinese government, a study showed yesterday, as Beijing ramps up a charm offensive toward Taipei alongside military pressure. China has long taken a carrot-and-stick approach to Taiwan, threatening it with the prospect of military action while reaching out to those it believes are amenable to Beijing’s point of view. Taiwanese security officials are wary of what they see as Beijing’s influence campaigns to sway public opinion after Taipei and Beijing gradually resumed travel links halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the scale of
A US Marine Corps regiment equipped with Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) is set to participate in the upcoming Balikatan 25 exercise in the Luzon Strait, marking the system’s first-ever deployment in the Philippines. US and Philippine officials have separately confirmed that the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) — the mobile launch platform for the Naval Strike Missile — would take part in the joint exercise. The missiles are being deployed to “a strategic first island chain chokepoint” in the waters between Taiwan proper and the Philippines, US-based Naval News reported. “The Luzon Strait and Bashi Channel represent a critical access
Pope Francis is be laid to rest on Saturday after lying in state for three days in St Peter’s Basilica, where the faithful are expected to flock to pay their respects to history’s first Latin American pontiff. The cardinals met yesterday in the Vatican’s synod hall to chart the next steps before a conclave begins to choose Francis’ successor, as condolences poured in from around the world. According to current norms, the conclave must begin between May 5 and 10. The cardinals set the funeral for Saturday at 10am in St Peter’s Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College