After the photos, new alleged images of Peng Shuai pop up on Twitter, the former tennis player number one in the world ranking who disappeared from November 2 after accusing former vice premier Zhang Gaoli, one of the most important men in China, of sexual abuse.
Chinese state media, and in particular Hu Xijin, the publisher of the Global Times, have released two videos: in one, the 35-year-old appears to enter a restaurant wearing a coat, a cap and a mask. In the other, she is sitting at a table without her mask while chatting with some people.
"Peng Shuai having dinner with his coach and friends in a restaurant: the content of the video clearly shows that they were shot on Saturday, Beijing time," explains Hu Xijin in English. The conversation revolved around "tennis matches" and a man sitting with Peng and two other women says "tomorrow is November 20". But one of the two corrects it: "It's 21st" or Sunday.
The doubts that this is a staging remain. The president of the Women's Tennis Association (the association that manages the global professional women's tennis circuit), Steve Simon, says he is "happy" to see the images, although "it is not clear if Peng is free and able to take decisions or acting actions alone, without coercion or external interference. This video alone is not enough, "Simon said in a statement. "I have been clear about what needs to happen and our relationship with China is at a crossroads," he added. If the champion is not clarified, the association threatens to leave China.
(Unioneonline / D)
