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

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.

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

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?