Shuai disappearance “Foreign media hype” says Chinese insider

A well-connected Chinese state media editor, Hu Xijin, the editor of the Global Times, weighed in on the scandal involving Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai and her accusation of sexual assault by a former vice premier,

“As a person who is familiar with the Chinese system, I don’t believe Peng Shuai has received retaliation and repression as  speculated by foreign media for the thing people talked about”

Neither Zhang nor the Chinese government have commented on her allegation, but Peng’s social media post on Weibo was quickly deleted and the subject has been blocked from discussion on China’s heavily censored internet.

The Global Times is published by the ruling Communist Party’s official People’s Daily, and the influential Hu is permitted an active presence on Twitter, which is blocked in China.

Hu often posts anti-American  tweets from a uniquely high profile position in China’s tightly controlled state media.

Hu made no comment about the Peng Shuai controversy on his official Weibo account.

Roger Parker

Recent Posts

Halep seething over Swiatek wrist-slap doping penalty

Doping sanction victim Simona Halep has gone online to protest her own treatment by anti-doping…

3 weeks ago

Nadal goes down in final match

Rafael Nadal lined up for what was to be the final match of his career…

1 month ago

Sinner flattens de Minaur in runaway home start

Jannik Sinner took charge in front of his home crowd on Sunday, crushing ATP Finals…

1 month ago

Madcap Medvedev suffers temperamental Turin Finals loss

Daniil Medvedev went into meltdown mode on Sunday during a highly charged 6-4, 6-3 loss, with opponent…

1 month ago

Team Sinner considering skipping Monte Carlo

Jannik Sinner could well be missing from the opening European clay event of next season…

1 month ago

Davis Cup Final to mark Nadal goodbye to tennis

Rafael Nadal will bring down the curtain on his career next month as he plays his…

2 months ago