Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Social Media

New unverified footage of Peng Shuai posted online

Fresh unverified footage of Peng Shuai was posted online by a state-affiliated journalist as international concern persists for the tennis star.

Chinese people dodge censors to discuss Peng Shuai case online
Peng Shuai alleged that former Chinese vice-premier Zhang Gaoli forced her to have sex - Copyright AFP/File Eric Feferberg
Peng Shuai alleged that former Chinese vice-premier Zhang Gaoli forced her to have sex - Copyright AFP/File Eric Feferberg

Fresh unverified footage of Peng Shuai was posted online by a state-affiliated journalist on Sunday as international concern persists for the Chinese tennis star after she publicly accused a former vice-premier of forcing her to have sex.

Qingqing Chen, a reporter for the state-owned Global Times, tweeted a video of Peng appearing to speak with Chinese basketball icon Yao Ming.

Chen said the video was sent to her by a “friend” and that it was taken at an event to promote cross-country skiing in Shanghai.

The seven-second clip shows the tennis player smiling and listening as Yao speaks indistinctly.

Chen also posted a photo of Peng posing with Yao and two other Chinese sports figures — Olympic sailing champion Xu Lijia and retired table tennis player Wang Liqin.

The foursome were standing next to a banner for the “FIS Cross-Country Skiing China City Tour” with Shanghai’s Yangpu bridge in the background.

The Shanghai stop of the cross-country ski tour took place on Saturday, according to the state-run CGTN news site.

Twitter is blocked in China and only people with a VPN-type workaround can access it.

However, many Chinese diplomats and official state media have accounts to defend China’s point of view.

Peng, a former Wimbledon and French Open doubles champion, took to Chinese social media in early November to allege that former vice-premier Zhang Gaoli — who is in his 70s — forced her into sex during an on-off relationship spanning several years.

Her message was quickly scrubbed from the Chinese web, but not before screenshots were posted on Twitter, sparking a worldwide outcry.

The Women’s Tennis Association has called for Peng’s allegations to be investigated fully and transparently.

The sporting body announced earlier this month that it was suspending all tournaments in China, including Hong Kong, over concerns about Peng’s safety.

State media have previously published other images of Peng at a Beijing tennis tournament as well as a screenshot of an email allegedly written by the player saying “everything is fine”.

Peng also participated in late November in a 30-minute video call with Thomas Bach, head of the International Olympic Committee.

But the WTA and fellow tennis players have continued to call for more transparency from Beijing over Peng’s whereabouts.

AFP
Written By

With 2,400 staff representing 100 different nationalities, AFP covers the world as a leading global news agency. AFP provides fast, comprehensive and verified coverage of the issues affecting our daily lives.

You may also like:

World

Meanwhile, just get out, now. This thing obviously means business.

Life

Internet personality Guilherme Werner chatted about representing Brazil in the 2024 Mister Universe competition.

Business

A Manila coal plant could be a model for how developing countries can quit polluting fossil fuel - Copyright AFP JAM STA ROSASara HUSSEINA...

Tech & Science

Sherlock Holmes fans are being promised a most authentic depiction of the fictional detective, with the restoration of a century-old silent film.