Peng Shuai missing after accusing official of assault

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Enceladus

Enceladus

Legend
Federer & Nadal should also respond to Peng Suai's disappearance and support her.

I don't believe in the official statement. Peng Suai is obviously imprisoned under house arrest / detention without the possibility of contact with the outside world. Blaming a high-ranking communist politician is always dangerous, especially in a country as large as China. We can only hope that Peng Suai will get out of this bad situation without hurting his health.
 
Martin J

Martin J

Hall of Fame
It's sad and disturbing that such things happen in 21st century, but China is an Orwellian country and all the countries where the communist rose to power care little or non at all about individuals and their rights, so nothing really that surprising (which is another level of horror).
And, as someone already mentioned, it's very disappointing that the biggest tennis stars of today haven't publicly criticized the regime in Beijing.
 
P

Pass750

Professional
One Handed Dynasty said:
This is an important issue, and merely responding to Bartelby is letting him accomplish his and the CCP’s goal of diverting this threads focus. Since he has nothing useful or meaningful to say in any way whatsoever regarding this topic, I think the best practice would be to block or ignore him. That way the focus can go back on finding a missing person, who regardless of their history or country of origin, has a right to life and freedom.
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Can’t believe anyone who has been here for any length of time hasn’t blocked this person long ago. Makes me mad I still even have to see that name in posts.
 
V

Visionary

Hall of Fame
guanzishou said:
WTA threatens to cancel China tournaments
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Construction workers have worked 24/7 for a few months now to accomplish the Nansha (Guangzhou) venue that's supposed to host one of the next year's WTA events. The staff in this financially strapped sports center with a hotel have been so looking forward to the tournament next year. I don't suppose the other Chinese sports centers to hold a WTA event are different. I do hope the wisdom will prevail.
 
M

MadariKatu

Hall of Fame
I'm extremely worried about this. I hope I'm wrong, but I believe she has been already murdered.

The worst now is how the world reacts to it. Sadly, I expect a situation like that of Khashoggi (apparent outrage, but nothing's changed). There should be massive pressure from all countries calling for boycot of the 2022 winter olympics in china, and wta, atp and itf should cancel all tennis events in china, until she's back safely.

Will not happen. China is buying the world over, including the freedom of speech we're so proud of in the western world (just gotta see how some actors or sports figures have corrected themselves in the usa). I have absolutely no hope for humankind, and this only helps me get more depressed.
 
AnOctorokForDinner

AnOctorokForDinner

Talk Tennis Guru
Seems so absurd it's almost funny. At least it makes sense when people are hurt or even killed over genuinely sensitive information. All she did was level a bunch of unprovable accusations. That Chinese official, and by extension the government, is implicating themselves.
 
aldeayeah

aldeayeah

G.O.A.T.
AnOctorokForDinner said:
Seems so absurd it's almost funny. At least it makes sense when people are hurt or even killed over genuinely sensitive information. All she did was level a bunch of unprovable accusations.
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Well I think it's a beautiful display of human dignity.

That she decided to go ahead and make it public anyway, despite the fact there's not a snowball's chance in hell the alleged perpetrator will face any punishment.
 
Born_to_slice

Born_to_slice

Legend
Martin J said:
It's sad and disturbing that such things happen in 21st century, but China is an Orwellian country and all the countries where the communist rose to power care little or non at all about individuals and their rights, so nothing really that surprising (which is another level of horror).
And, as someone already mentioned, it's very disappointing that the biggest tennis stars of today haven't publicly criticized the regime in Beijing.
Click to expand...
The rest of the world is on a fast track to become global communist China the last couple of years. IMO that's a tiny bit more disturbing than China being China.
 
AnOctorokForDinner

AnOctorokForDinner

Talk Tennis Guru
aldeayeah said:
Well I think it's a beautiful display of human dignity.

That she decided to go ahead and make it public anyway, despite the fact there's not a snowball's chance in hell the alleged perpetrator will face any punishment.
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I'm not following you here. She's not standing up for anyone but herself at the moment.
 
AnOctorokForDinner

AnOctorokForDinner

Talk Tennis Guru
aldeayeah said:
Man, you're heartless.

If nothing else, it makes for a powerful story, which is why people are so involved in this thread.
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In the original sense of the word.

The power of the story is the disgust and fear it inspires. Not overawed by a stunning act of reckless bravery, in fact it doesn't really matter who the victim is. Few people cared for Shuai before this. What matters is this being a striking example of a forced disappearance for saying something against the Chinese government, even just a specific official. That's where concern and backlash comes from.
 
C

ConnorH

New User
Apparently there are many anti-China commenters on this forum, who want to capitalize on this matter, although as of today, there is no facts to prove that the Chinese government is guilty of anything.

There are not much facts, but certainly many possibilities. It could be that ex vice-premier (whom I personally don't like) should be condemned for his sexual assault,. It is also possible Peng Shuai is lying about her status as the mistress. There is still a chance that someone hacked her account to defame both.
 
C

ConnorH

New User
Tshooter said:
"After calling for an official investigation, Simon has threatened to move all WTA tournaments—altogether worth billions of dollars in business to the WTA, China, and other stakeholders—out of China if the country’s governing bodies don’t comply."

time.com

Tennis May Leave China If Peng Shuai Isn't Accounted For

WTA CEO Steve Simon Threatens To Pull Tournaments Out Of China
time.com time.com
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He is threatening with WTA to leave China, based on his speculation on this matter, but not any facts (he has none).
 
Wander

Wander

Hall of Fame
MadariKatu said:
I'm extremely worried about this. I hope I'm wrong, but I believe she has been already murdered.

The worst now is how the world reacts to it. Sadly, I expect a situation like that of Khashoggi (apparent outrage, but nothing's changed). There should be massive pressure from all countries calling for boycot of the 2022 winter olympics in china, and wta, atp and itf should cancel all tennis events in china, until she's back safely.

Will not happen. China is buying the world over, including the freedom of speech we're so proud of in the western world (just gotta see how some actors or sports figures have corrected themselves in the usa). I have absolutely no hope for humankind, and this only helps me get more depressed.
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I know of several other Chinese celebrity disappearances like the Fan Bingbing one that @max8176 referenced earlier. In those cases the person did eventually emerge back in public after several months, but the difference in those cases was that at the time of disappearance the reasons were actually unclear to the public. Fan Bingbing's tax evasion investigation during her detainment only came to light later. In other cases, we never learned why the celebrity disappeared from the public for the period of time they were missing.

Peng Shuai's situation is worrying in the sense that she made the kind of accusation towards a high ranking politician that I haven't seen before. We know exactly why she has disappeared. Even Bartelby (whose motivations I really can't make sense of) surely realizes that she has been restricted from making any kind of public statements (besides the "hey guys, I never made any accusations, must've been someone else, anyway see ya later!" -email allegedly written by her) ever since that November 2nd Weibo post.

@ConnorH's "Maybe it was a hacker trying to defame them" - theory doesn't hold water to me because it would be trivially easy to solve without requiring the "hacked" person's disappearance.
 
Azure

Azure

G.O.A.T.
MadariKatu said:
I'm extremely worried about this. I hope I'm wrong, but I believe she has been already murdered.

The worst now is how the world reacts to it. Sadly, I expect a situation like that of Khashoggi (apparent outrage, but nothing's changed). There should be massive pressure from all countries calling for boycot of the 2022 winter olympics in china, and wta, atp and itf should cancel all tennis events in china, until she's back safely.

Will not happen. China is buying the world over, including the freedom of speech we're so proud of in the western world (just gotta see how some actors or sports figures have corrected themselves in the usa). I have absolutely no hope for humankind, and this only helps me get more depressed.
Click to expand...
The only solace is that the organization that she works(ed) for (WTA) is at least pressurizing with actions. I would hate for no one to be bothered about my existence especially when I have contributed to its growth.

This is a sad, sad thing that has happened.
 
C

Chopin

Hall of Fame
It looks like the moderators are doing the right thing and letting this discussion continue.

I just wonder how this could end: I remember when Ai Weiwei was placed under house arrest and refused to talk to the media. He made the decision, wisely, to leave the country. Those were different times and Ai Weiwei was (and is) a huge star of the art world. Unfortunately, China has only gone the wrong direction with regards to freedom of expression and the ego and hubris of its leader and ruling party has only grown. Tennis, as one of the most international sports, needs to take a stand: players cannot be silenced or censored.
 
Gumbo Jackson

Gumbo Jackson

Rookie
This is an awful situation. Peng made very serious accusations and now she is missing. I absolutely don't believe that supposed statement in which she denies her own claims.

It is good to see the WTA and individual players making statements in support of her. I hope for her safety and well-being. If she isn't found safely I 100% support tennis events being pulled from China and a boycott of the Olympics in Beijing.
 
D-Lite

D-Lite

Hall of Fame
Gumbo Jackson said:
This is an awful situation. Peng made very serious accusations and now she is missing. I absolutely don't believe that supposed statement in which she denies her own claims.

It is good to see the WTA and individual players making statements in support of her. I hope for her safety and well-being. If she isn't found safely I 100% support tennis events being pulled from China and a boycott of the Olympics in Beijing.
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Agreed - organisations must make a stand and show that money cannot trump human rights and a right to free speech.
I am very impressed by Steve Simon's statements so far and I hope the WTA continue to press for information, and with each rejection edge closer to pulling all WTA events from China. If it does progress to that, I hope the ATP also take a stance in solidarity with the WTA.
I'm also glad to see that this is the top sports story/one of the top stories in many large media outlets, even without many top names commenting on it. I understand many will be following this story and some will be considering their own safety (Hsieh, for instance) or their own public image (bigger stars with endorsement deals) before making statements. I also imagine many have faith in the WTA to tackle this, or even the WTA may have issued a statement to all players (although this would presumably end up getting out anyway).
 
D

dkmura

Professional
Gumbo Jackson said:
This is an awful situation. Peng made very serious accusations and now she is missing. I absolutely don't believe that supposed statement in which she denies her own claims.

It is good to see the WTA and individual players making statements in support of her. I hope for her safety and well-being. If she isn't found safely I 100% support tennis events being pulled from China and a boycott of the Olympics in Beijing.
Click to expand...
Agreed- while Peng's case has more than the usual amount of cultural dichotomy, a statement in support of her must be made. The question is, China has been very defensive when there's any question of "internal security", so will officials feel any pressure to release Peng or allow her to speak freely?
 
Fedinkum

Fedinkum

Legend
ConnorH said:
Apparently there are many anti-China commenters on this forum, who want to capitalize on this matter, although as of today, there is no facts to prove that the Chinese government is guilty of anything.

There are not much facts, but certainly many possibilities. It could be that ex vice-premier (whom I personally don't like) should be condemned for his sexual assault,. It is also possible Peng Shuai is lying about her status as the mistress. There is still a chance that someone hacked her account to defame both.
Click to expand...
Unofficial kidnapping is a well known tactic if you are even remotely close to observing past behaviours of the Chinese government. Just search the disappearance of Hong Kong Book Seller or even Jack Ma, these are Facts!

The fact that the head of WTA wrote such a condemning statement and the fact that her name is now censored on chinese internet, us as tennis fans have every right to assume her disappearance is linked to her accusation of a Chinese official.
 
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Martin J

Martin J

Hall of Fame
Born_to_slice said:
The rest of the world is on a fast track to become global communist China the last couple of years. IMO that's a tiny bit more disturbing than China being China.
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That would be definitely more disturbing, but still it doesn't change the fact or makes it less terrifying that (communist) China (like any other communist country, including our ex) "neutralizes" anyone who is a potential or a real threat to the one and only Party, which is horrible (and nothing unknown, sadly).
 
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Ace of Aces

Ace of Aces

Semi-Pro
The players may actually have some power in this case. Ending all tournaments in China and demanding China be banned from international tennis could put pressure on the CCP to undisappear Shuai assuming she is still alive. That being said the CCP often seems to value saving face more than material loss so maybe not.
 
D-Lite

D-Lite

Hall of Fame
sureshs said:
Naomi Osaka expresses concern for Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai - CBS News
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There have been very little developments to this story beside the WTA's statements and a few cases of the CCP denying any knowledge. So far media outlets are having to keep it fresh by making articles out of Tweets or filling articles with information on China's 'Me Too' movement. Not that this is a criticism, but I feel developments will trickle in. I'd also anticipate any threat to withdraw tournaments or any concrete withdrawals will take time and require a lot of discussion within the WTA/ATP and tennis circles.
 
NonP

NonP

Legend
It's indeed been heartening to see the WTA taking a measured yet firm stance on one of its own. No doubt it comes on top of the calculation that it makes more financial sense to pressure the world's 2nd biggest market into complying with international norms than to risk pissing off a sizable portion of your global fanbase in this age of #MeToo, but it's an encouraging sign nonetheless.

And LMFAO at the quasi-wumao bots still trying to pretend there's no basis for doubting that obviously fake email. The WTA CEO said in its press release that he's been repeatedly trying to contact Peng to no avail and yet you expect us to believe your BS? Here's something you lemmings badly need to digest: the world really isn't half as stupid as you are.
 
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