Tennis star Peng Shuai disappeared by the Chinese after making a sexual assault claim

silverharp

A Chinese tennis star who publicly accused a top former Politburo official of forcing her to have sex has vanished as international sports officials demanded her accusations be fully investigated. Peng Shuai, a former number one ranked doubles player, has not been seen or heard from in about 2 weeks or a few days after she wrote a lengthy social-media post alleging sex assault by a former vice premier of China. Supporters who are worried about the 35 year old player’s safety have rallied online using the Twitter hashtag #WhereIsPengShuai.

The WTA to their credit are willing to put their chinese business on the line, but with the winter olympics coming out its time for the world sport's community to come together and boycott the event unless this is resolved. To date her social media presence is scrubbed and she had half a million followers on it and only a dodgy email recanting her allegations is the only communications to date.

https://twitter.com/serenawilliams/status/1461408866697105413

mactheknife19

Separating the specific case from the actual suggestion, why is always sportstars who should boycott. A similar call was made before the Beijing Olympics. Most of the athletes taking place will be small time athletes which many of us have no idea of. They work for 4 / 8 / 12 years for this once in a lifetime opportunity, and then you get high profile (rich) athletes, celebrity etc makes calls like this. You don't see any of these people demanding that their products (sports ranges), or films are not allowed into be sold in China. Why are the sponsors not pulling their money............because China is a behemoth of an economy and money rules all. I think I heard this week that maybe the US are boycotting from diplomatic standpoint (so athletes still go, but no dignitaries get a free junket). While this is small step, its nothing to do with this Tennis players. Its just political grandstanding. So I do admire the WTA for these initial stance.

No doubt OP (like me) posted this thread from Chinese made phone, sitting in your house surrounded by various Chinese products, or products from various countries with question marks (clothes from taiwan etc). This is not an attack on you. Its just like so many other things (e.g climate) , were all part of the problem but when it comes to the solution we always look to others to make the sacrifice.

This story has really been gathering steam over the last week. Will be interesting to see what happens. Massive respect to the WTA. It shows up the NBA among others for what they are.

Edit to say: I mentioned in another thread but Biden has announced a Diplomatic boycott of the Olympics which is a good start.

Good detailed report here https://thediplomat.com/2021/11/chinese-tennis-star-accuses-former-top-official-of-sexual-assault/

She was the concubine of a powerful man

Faugheen

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118195891#Comment_118195891

Because if there are no athletes there are no games, and it puts pressure on China to act as a result.

Gatling

Staged photographs were leaked to Western media earlier today with an announcement she will make an appearance soon

TheValeyard

Some serious 1936 vibes off China these days.

silverharp

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118196428#Comment_118196428

One was Hitler's main problems was Germany wasnt essential to the global supply chain , well played the rape regime of china

mactheknife19

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118195972#Comment_118195972

But why the athletes ( many in the Winter Olympics been semi-pro and have worked all their lives for this). Why not demand AirBnB, Coca Cola, VISA, Samsung pull their sponsorship

Sent from my Chinese made smart-phone.

briany

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118197844#Comment_118197844

Yeah. I cannot help but say that the Chinese government appears to be playing a blinder at the moment. They're using our collective greed and addiction to cheap labour and goods as a way to enrich themselves, and the information technology devices which they so efficiently provide at a ridiculously low price are directly contributing to a massive amount of disinformation being spread that serves to light fires at the foundation of our democratic systems. Is there a realistic way to combat that which does not include becoming more like China where freedom of speech and the right to criticise the government is not brutally curtailed?

For Forks Sake

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118196176#Comment_118196176

Pa ElGrande

I heard about this weeks 2 weeks ago on ADVCHINA.

The accusations are against a very senior politician named Zhang Gaoli It may indicate a factional struggle in the CCP, this stuff is usually contained.

Corruption and sexual exploitation is common among quite a few Chinese Communist Party (CCP) members and it is not confined to the senior ranks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJnnjFitUpA

tayto lover

Anyone know if the person she made the allegations against also disappeared?

elperello

CCP are a gangster regime.

As long as you understand that you can sort out your own compromises with the knowledge.

Yurt2

Extremely murky and reminiscent of the Bo Xilai/Gu Kailai scandal. For those that don't remember, was an incident where a very senior and popular CCP member, (Bo, who was one tipped for the top) was implicated in the murder of a British national Neil Heywood, who if he wasn't a British intelligence asset in China, certainly allowed people to think he was.

(Basically agree with the poster about this being a factionalism event in the CCP. Bo and Zhou Yongkang got crushed by Xi because he was a threat - otherwise, the incident would have stayed under the rug)