China responds to WTA’s decision to suspend all its events in China over Peng Shuai’s allegation

China on Thursday responded to the Women’s Tennis Association’s decision to suspend all its events in China over the case of former Tennis star Peng Shuai, who accused country’s former Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli of pressurizing her into a sexual relationship.

The WTA’s (Women’s Tennis Association) chief executive Steve Simon said in a statement on Wednesday the organization had been left with no choice and demanded verifiable proof that the former French Open and Wimbledon doubles champion was safe. He also called on Beijing to fully investigate her accusations. WTA has asserted that Peng has not been allowed to communicate freely and has been pressured to contradict her allegation of sexual assault. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a media briefing in Beijing that it is opposed to “acts that politicise sports”. Over the past three weeks, the ministry has repeatedly avoided questions about the case, saying the question was not related to foreign affairs.

In early November, Peng, 35, accused former Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli of pressuring her into sex in a social media post that was soon deleted. Any references about Peng or her explosive allegation were removed from Chinese social media by Chinese censors. Subsequent reports of her going missing created an international outcry. Neither Zhang nor the Chinese government have commented on the allegation. There has been a deafening silence about the WTA’s decision in Chinese media or social media. Only one State-run tabloid posted on twitter, which is banned in China, that the Chinese Tennis Association, (CTA) expressed its firm opposition to the “unilateral” decision of the WTA. The WTA said its decision was made in “good conscience.” Simon said he was also concerned about the risks players and staff could face should the WTA hold events in China in 2022.

Weeks later, Peng appeared in a number of photos and videos circulated by Chinese state media. In another dramatic turn, state media also published a purported email from Peng to Simon on Twitter saying the allegations of sexual assault were not true and that she had not been missing but “resting at home” which only deepened suspicions about her personal freedom. Meanwhile, the International Olympic Committee, which has already been criticised for saying it was satisfied Peng was safe after a video call between the tennis star and IOC chief Thomas Bach, said a second conversation had taken place. However, the video of the conversation was not made public. Beijing will host the 2022 Winter Olympics in February and the IOC has been accused of trying to avoid upsetting the Chinese authorities amid growing international pressure over Peng’s case.

The UN, the US and a host of international tennis stars including Serena Williams and Billie Jean King expressed concerns over her sudden disappearance and asked China to disclose her whereabouts. Top tennis players have also backed the WTA’s decision.