The silencing and Disappearance of Chinese Tennis Peng Shuai

On November 2, 35-year-old Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai accused former Chinese Vice President Zhang Gaoli of sexually assaulting her. The twice-Grand Slam doubles champion made the accusation on Weibo, a Chinese social media network. Within minutes, the post was deleted, a censor appeared to block the word “tennis” from search results, and Peng disappeared from the public view.

According to Peng, she engaged in a secret relationship with Zhang between 2013 and 2018. Over this period, Peng claims to have had consensual sex with Zhang on numerous occasions, however she alleges that on one occasion, the sex was not consensual. Though the Chinese media has suppressed the story, screenshots of Peng’s initial post continue to circulate.

This affair has caused outrage around the world. On November 17, the state-owned Chinese television broadcaster CGTN released an email allegedly written by Peng. The email said, “the allegation of sexual assault is not true. I am not missing, nor am I unsafe. I’ve just been resting at home.” In response to the email, the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Chairman Steve Simon asked for further proof that it was written by Peng, expressing difficulty “believing that Peng Shuai actually wrote the email,” and claiming its release “only raises [his] concerns as to her safety.”

A number of other organizations have continued to voice concerns regarding Peng Shuai’s whereabouts. Amnesty International called for proof of Peng’s safety, asserting that her case “highlights the treatment faced by women survivors of sexual abuse in China, whose allegations are routinely ignored and who are often targeted for speaking out.” The International Tennis Federation spokeswomen Heather Bowler stated that “player safety is always… top priority,” and expressed support for a “full and transparent investigation into this matter.”

On November 21, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach met with Peng on a 30-minute video call and subsequently released a statement asserting that Peng was “doing fine” and had asked “to have her privacy respected.” That same day, China Open posted videos and photos of Peng appearing at a youth tennis tournament in Beijing.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has raised major concerns about the virtual call, and accused the IOC of helping China in light of the Winter Olympics set to occur in Beijing next year. According to Sophie Richardson, China’s director for HRW, “the IOC has shown… how desperate it is to keep the Games on the rails no matter the human cost.” CNN has also raised concerns over the video call regarding the fact that the IOC never explained how the video call was organized. In a statement to CNN, the Women’s Tennis Association underlined that the call does not “alleviate or address the WTA’s concern about her well-being and ability to communicate without censorship.”

Peng can be added to a lengthening list of Chinese celebrities targeted for political dissent. In a similar fashion to Peng, Alibaba founder Jack Ma stopped making public appearances for three months after criticizing state regulations in 2020. Ren Zhiqiang, a real estate tycoon, also disappeared from the public eye in 2020 after condemning the Chinese government’s handling of COVID and was later sentenced to 18 years in prison on corruption charges.

Hong Kong native Annie Wong notes that the man accused by Peng of sexual assault is no longer relevent to the CCP. Nonetheless, “any accusation to the CCP is an accusation against Xi,” she said, referring to current Chinese Chairman Xi Jin Ping. Wong also underlined that women’s rights in China have long been seen as an example of “Western influence,” which has led to a heavy repression of the #metoo movement. Wong said, “In a functioning democracy, you would be able to make an accusation of this nature in a court.” Peng did not have this option, there was no potential to seek justice through legal means and thus she “was forced to resort to social media.” Finally, Wong asks the question: “If someone of this status cannot get justice, what does that mean for the average Chinese woman?”

- Saoirse Aherne