LAST UPDATE | 19 Nov 2021
THE WHITE HOUSE and the United Nations have joined demands to establish the whereabouts and welfare of missing Chinese player Peng Shuai.
Peng has not been seen since making allegations of sexual assault against a former vice-premier in China two weeks ago, creating concern for her safety and wellbeing.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters: “We are deeply concerned by reports that Peng Shuai appears to be missing after accusing a former PRC (Peoples Republic of China) senior official of sexual assaults.
“We join in the calls for PRC authorities to provide independent and verifiable proof of her whereabouts and that she is safe.”
Liz Throssell, the spokesman for the UN Human Rights Office, echoed those concerns and called for an investigation “with full transparency” into Peng’s allegations.
Throssell told reporters: “(Peng) hasn’t been heard from publicly since she alleged on social media that she was sexually assaulted.”
The UN insisted on a fully transparent investigation into the claims made by Peng, formerly the world’s top-ranked doubles player, against Communist Party grandee Zhang Gaoli.
Tennis stars, sports bodies and governments and human rights defenders also spoke up for Peng, 35, and demanded information.
The head of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) said he was prepared to cut lucrative business ties with China if Peng remains unaccounted for and her sexual assault allegations are not probed.
Serena Williams, Novak Djokovic and Naomi Osaka have also voiced their concerns for one of China’s greatest ever players.
“It would be important to have proof of her whereabouts and well-being,” Throssell, a spokeswoman for the UN Human Rights Office, told reporters in Geneva.
“According to available information, Peng, a former world doubles number one, hasn’t been heard from publicly since she alleged on social media that she had been sexually assaulted.
“We are calling for an investigation with full transparency into her allegation of sexual assault.”
Peng alleged on the Chinese social media site Weibo earlier this month that Zhang, now in his seventies, had “forced” her into sex during a long-term on-off relationship.
The claims were quickly scrubbed from the Twitter-like platform and she has not been seen since.
The WTA, the top world body for women’s tennis, has called for proof that Peng is safe.
Its boss Steve Simon said he is willing to lose hundreds of millions of dollars worth of Chinese business in one of the WTA’s biggest markets to ensure Peng’s safety.
Peng represented China in the Beijing, London and Rio de Janeiro Olympics and won gold for China at the 2010 Asian Games.
She is a former Wimbledon and French Open doubles champion.
France said the international community and sports bodies were worried for Peng’s situation.
“We are concerned about the lack of information,” the French foreign ministry said.
“We call on the Chinese authorities to implement their commitments in the fight against violence against women.”
The Lawn Tennis Association, the sport’s governing body in Britain, offered its assistance to the WTA in its efforts to establish Peng’s safety.
Peng’s claims brought the #MeToo movement into the highest echelons of China’s ruling Communist Party for the first time.
“The Chinese government has systematically silenced the country’s #MeToo movement,” said Amnesty International’s China researcher Doriane Lau.
“Given that it also has a zero-tolerance approach to criticism, it is deeply concerning that Peng Shuai appears to be missing,” she said.
China has repeatedly refused to comment on her fate or the case.
But Hu Xijin, the editor of the state-run Global Times, tweeted Friday that he didn’t believe that “Peng Shuai has received retaliation and repression speculated by foreign media for the thing people talked about”.
Earlier this week, state-run CGTN published a screenshot on Twitter of what it said was an email written by Peng to Simon and other WTA officials.
In the email, Peng claims that her earlier accusations are “not true” and says she is “resting at home and everything is fine”.
But doubts were quickly flagged about the awkward language used in the purported email and the cursor visible in the screenshot.
Simon said that he was struggling to believe the email was authentic.
“I don’t think there’s any validity in it and we won’t be comfortable until we have a chance to speak with her,” he said.
Amnesty’s Lau said: “China’s state media has a track record of forcing statements out of individuals under duress, or else simply fabricating them.”
I like and fully support this idea.
Good idea. It’s nice to see that level of analysis around set piece technique that isn’t easy to pick up on from the stands of on tv. Maybe get the lads some stools for the next installment.
Top notch as usual Murray. Keep it up.
Good start – keep it up
Hopefully this continues after the 6 Nations and becomes a regular thing into the end of the Pro12. Murray Kinsella to become the “Ariel Helwani” of Irish Rugby – would love to see him interview rugby players on YouTube videos..
Liam I couldn’t think of a worse comparison – Ariel Helwani is a fan boy and doesn’t have a rashers about what’s going on in the cage – he’s the Craig Doyle of MMA!
Haha when I posted it that crossed my mind – kind of sounded like an insult to Murray. But I meant more in the sense of long podcast style interviews rather than the short soundbite interviews we only hear with players..
It is really hard to take a man seriously as a pundit when he says things like this: “If you are a supporter, that is a line you do not cross – no matter what sport, not even the lowest of the low. The only thing that is lower is racism or sexual harassment. That is pathetic.” This was in relation to the jeering of Keatley. Pathetic indeed
Murrays view on that matter is completely understandable – given he is an ex-player himself, I wouldn’t expect him to take any other position. But I think you need to separate his views on spectators voicing their frustrations from pitch side, from actual punditry. Murray has an ability to convey to the non-playing masses as to what’s actually happening on the pitch from a technical perspective. Rugby journalism has been vastly lacking on this type of in-depth analysis, for years we’ve been peddled Thornley-esque pieces based on sentiment with no substance. More from Murray please, he can help close the gap in understanding of the game between the pros and the public
He’s talking about Trevor Hogan’s comment on Off The Ball, but either way, he’s been red thumbed to the appropriate level.
All the red thumbs are a devastating blow for sure. What was I thinking???
I approve of this development.
I think the format needs some work, or maybe just bedding in.
I like an earlier post about tools.
Also, some video playback on the talking points, but I assume rights are an issue?
Definitely approve.
The world could always use some more high quality rugby podcasts if you guys ever fancy going an extra step.
Great stuff, Murray. Upwards and onwards. Maybe next time we’ll get to see the little figures get moved around the model pitch!!!!
Best of luck fellas..
I approve. More please.
Excellent analysis and lovely relaxed interview style! Will be tuning into 42 for sure. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree!!