Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Zhao Lijian has urged “certain people” to stop the "malicious hyping" of the Peng Shuai issue, saying that the situation around the tennis player should not be politicised.
"This is not a diplomatic matter. I believe everyone will have seen she has recently attended some public activities and also held a video call with IOC President Bach. I hope certain people will cease malicious hyping, let alone politicization," Zhao told a presser.
On Sunday, Peng held a video call with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), saying that she's "safe and well" at her Beijing home, as Western media and governments started sounding the alarm over her "disappearance" from the public eye. Over the weekend, she also appeared at the opening ceremony of the finals of the junior tennis competition in Beijing.
Earlier in the month, the 35-year-old Peng posted a statement on the Weibo social media platform, accusing 75-year-old Zhang Gaoli, the former Chinese vice-premier, of sexually assaulting her. The post was immediately deleted, while Peng`s accounts were also removed from the Chinese social networks. After making the allegation, the tennis player was not seen in public, fueling questions regarding her whereabouts and raising concerns for her safety.