Peng Shuai ‘will show up in public soon’, Chinese tabloid editor says
- Hu Xijin says the tennis player is at home and doesn’t want to be disturbed
- White House adds its voice to concerns for Peng’s well-being since the airing of sexual assault claims
Hu Xijin, editor-in-chief of state-run tabloid the Global Times said on Twitter on Saturday that tennis player Peng Shuai had been staying in her own home in the past few days and “didn’t want to be disturbed”. “She will show up in public and participate in some activities soon,” Hu said.
On Friday, Shen Shiwei, a commentator for state-run broadcaster CGTN, posted several photos of Peng on his Twitter account, saying they were from the tennis player and she had wished her friends a “happy weekend” via WeChat.
China is under pressure to release information about the whereabouts of the former Wimbledon and French Open doubles champion, who has not been seen in the public since a post appeared on her Weibo social media account on November 2 accusing a former senior official of pressuring her into having sex in 2019.
Peng, 35, said she and the official had a sexual relationship over a decade, ending in October.