WTA accused of "coercing" Peng Shuai to “support the West’s attack” on China

12/02/2021

Chinese state media have accused the Women’s Tennis Association of forcing tennis star Peng Shuai to ’support the West’s attack’ on China – with the International Olympic Committee releasing a statement claiming they are employing ‘quiet diplomacy’.

China condemned the ‘politicisation of sports’ on Thursday after the WTA suspended their tournaments in the country following Peng’s accusations of sexual assault against a former vice premier Zhang Gaoli.

The WTA are unconvinced by Peng’s public appearances and want assurances of her wellbeing, as well as an investigation into her accusations.

It also cited safety concerns of other players for the pulling of tournaments.

The damning stance by the WTA is a blow for China as Beijing is readying itself to host the Winter Olympics in February, and global rights groups are calling for a boycott against the country’s human rights record. Foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin did not comment on the WTA's decision but insisted China ‘opposes the politicisation of sports’.

On Thursday, the IOC released a statement declaring the body had held a second video call with Peng after originally calling her in late-November.

“We share the same concern as many other people and organisations about the well-being and safety of Peng Shuai," the statement read.

"This is why, just yesterday, an IOC team held another video call with her. We have offered her wide-ranging support, will stay in regular touch with her, and have already agreed on a personal meeting with her in January.

“There are different ways to achieve her well-being and safety. We have taken a very human and person-centred approach to her situation.

"Since she is a three-time Olympian, the IOC is addressing these concerns directly with Chinese sports organisations. We are using ‘quiet diplomacy’ which, given the circumstances and based on the experience of governments and other organisations, is indicated to be the most promising way to proceed effectively in such humanitarian matters.

“The IOC’s efforts led to a half-hour video conference with Peng Shuai on 21 November, during which she explained her situation and appeared to be safe and well, given the difficult situation she is in. This was reconfirmed in yesterday’s call.

"Our human and person-centred approach means that we continue to be concerned about her personal situation and will continue to support her.”

China have blocked discussions of Peng’s accusations on the nation’s censored internet. The Global Times newspaper – a nationalistic tabloid published in English by the Communist Party’s People’s Daily, accused the WTA of ‘bringing politics into women’s tennis’ and acting as a ‘lever of Western public opinion’.

The editorial, which was posted to the newspaper’s Twitter account, labelled the WTA ‘betrayers of the Olympic spirit’. The Global Times’ editor-in-chief Hu Xijin used his personal Twitter account on Thursday to accuse the body of ‘coercing’ Peng to ‘support the West’s attack’ on China.

Hu was one of the first reporters to publish images of Peng following her disappearance.

Peng's whereabouts became a matter of international concern following a nearly three-week public absence after she publicly accused Zhang in a social media message posted on Weibo in early November.

Neither Zhang, who retired in 2018, nor the Chinese government have commented on Peng's allegation.

On November 21, IOC President Thomas Bach had a 30-minute video call with Peng during which she told him she was safe.

However, WTA chief executive Steve Simon was unconvinced Peng is safe and said the decision to suspend tournaments in China had the full support of the WTA Board of Directors – despite the fact it could cost the body hundreds of millions of dollars in broadcasting and sponsorship revenue.

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