Following the disappearance of China’s tennis star, Peng Shuai after she publicly accused China’s former vice-premier of sexually assaulting her, the United States and the United Nations on Friday demanded proof of her whereabouts, amidst rising concerns across the world over her wellbeing.
According to White House press secretary, Jen Psaki, President Joe Biden’s administration wanted China to provide independent, verifiable proof of Peng’s whereabouts and expressed “deep concern” about the former world top-ranked doubles player.
Liz Throssell, a spokeswoman for the UN Human Rights Office, also told reporters in Geneva that It would be important to have proof of her whereabouts and wellbeing, further calling for an investigation with full transparency into her allegation of sexual assault.
Meanwhile, tennis players, including Naomi Osaka, Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic,, have also voiced their support for the former Wimbledon and French Open doubles champion amidst growing calls for a boycott of the winter Olympics scheduled to hold in China in less than 3 months.
China on its part has remained largely silent over the tennis star and on Friday the spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry, Zhao Lijian insisted it was not aware of the controversy surrounding the player as the matter was not a diplomatic issue.
