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WTA says it is ready to pull Chinese festivals on Peng Shuai | Women’s Rights Issues

The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) says it is ready to suspend the sport in China until Peng Shuai’s sexual offenses are properly addressed.

Peng has not appeared in public since announcing on TV on November 2 that Deputy Prime Minister Zhang Gaoli was he forced her to have sex.

The post on China’s Weibo page has been removed and all Chinese discussions have been banned.

WTA chief Steven Simon, who on Thursday questioned the validity of an alleged email from Peng that he shared with reporters in the United States, told reporters in the United States that the agency was ready to draw millions of dollars in competition over the issue. The commission has asked for an investigation.

“We are ready to pull our business and tackle all the challenges that come with it,” he told CNN in an interview.

“Because this is true, this is bigger than business. Women need to be respected and not discriminated against.”

Some of the world’s top actresses have joined a social networking site wanting to know where she is when Serena Williams wrote on Twitter Thursday that she was “shocked and surprised” at the end of Peng. Naomi Osaka and Novak Djokovic also spoke of the player’s concerns.

Williams wrote: “I hope he recovers well and will be back soon. “This needs to be investigated and we must not remain silent.”

Adam Ni, a Chinese journalist who publishes the Chinese Neican newspaper, said the story had a profound effect on it from its inception.

“We wrote the story when it started to break down that ‘Controversy with the CCP chief could ruin Peng’s life.’ Unfortunately, it seems our fears have been met, “he wrote Friday.

Chinese publisher CGTN posted a picture on Twitter of Peng’s email to WTA’s Simon stating that the statement was “not true” and that he was “resting at home”.

In response, Simon said he had found it hard to believe the email was actually from Peng. Beijing has faced charges of using state media coercive disclosure, while British authorities revoke the CGTN license for alleged misconduct and secrecy.

Hu Xijin, editor of the Global Times, a member of the Communist Party, said on Friday that he did not think Peng was targeting what he said, which he called “the things people talk about”.

The comments were posted on Twitter and not shared on Weibo.

“As someone who is well versed in the Chinese system, I do not believe that Peng Shuai was reprimanded and oppressed where he was considered by foreign journalists for what people say,” Hu said.

The Olympic Games are coming

China has been silent on the health of the 35-year-old professional tennis player despite concerns around the world.

A former Wimbledon rival with the French Open said Zhang, who retired in 2018, “forced” him to have sex in a long-term relationship. His remarks are the first time the new #MeToo faction has reached the peak of the ruling Communist Party.

The issue came to light as China prepares to host the Winter Olympics in Beijing in February.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has not commented on the matter.

“Experience has shown that peace talks provide an excellent opportunity for answers to these questions,” said an IOC spokesman. “This explains why the IOC will not comment at this stage.”

U.S. Representative Jim Banks of Indiana said he had written to U.S. President Joe Biden about Peng’s demise, urging him to raise his issue in talks with China and to warn Beijing that it could disrupt the Winter Olympics. The US says it is considering “boycotting” the game because of human rights issues.

Ni warned that although the international interest in Peng’s case was “good”, China could backfire.

“We can see the revenge from the Chinese Government on the game with these players, although it may only increase Peng’s interest,” he said.




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