Matt Bush, FISM News
Over the weekend, Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), communicated with Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai during a video chat that reportedly lasted 30 minutes. It was the first time Peng has been heard of or seen by anyone outside of China in 20 days, since she accused a Chinese official of sexual assault.
According to Fox News, the video conversation took place between Bach, Peng, an IOC member in China named Li Lingwei, and IOC Athletes’ Commission Chair Emma Terho. It also comes on the heels of criticism aimed at the IOC for remaining silent on the issue with the 2022 Olympic host nation while tennis officials took a much stronger stance. The IOC termed it “quiet diplomacy” and said that they would not be making any further comments.
This video chat was the first visual contact between Peng and anyone outside of China in almost three weeks. To date the IOC has not turned over the video to any other outlet and has only released still images of the 30 minute encounter.
During the video, Peng thanked the IOC for their concern and, according to the IOC statement, explained that she was “safe and well, living at her home in Beijing, but would like to have her privacy respected at this time. That is why she prefers to spend her time with friends and family right now.”
For the IOC’s part, Tehro said that Peng “appeared relaxed” and that she was relieved to see that Peng was “fine.” Tehro said, “I offered her our support and to stay in touch at any time of her convenience, which she obviously appreciated.” Bach, for his part, invited Peng to join him for dinner when he visits Beijing in January, an invitation that Peng reportedly accepted.
FISM previously reported that on November 2, “Peng took to her Weibo social media account to accuse Zhang Gaoli, a former member of the Communist Party’s Politburo Standing Committee, the top decision-making body in the country, of sexually assaulting her.” Immediately following that accusation, her social media accusations were taken down and Peng Shuai disappeared both from social media and the public.
An email “written by Peng Shuai” was then released in a tweet by CGTN, China’s state-run international media outlet, stating that the charges of sexual assault were false and posted without her knowledge or consent. Both the content of the email and the international response were widely considered suspicious and coerced.
The new video reported on by the IOC has done nothing to lessen fears for the safety of Peng Shuai. Many believe it to be an attempt by the Chinese state-backed media to show “proof” of Peng Shuai’s safety, while providing little assurances that she was not being forced to appear on the video chat.
The WTA and the international community continue to push China to prove Peng’s safety and whereabouts. The U.N. and White House have also both called for China to do more. During a recent appearance on “Face The Nation,” Ted Cruz said, “There are reasons to be deeply, deeply skeptical,” adding that the Chinese government is “trying to pretend everything is OK.”