BRUSSELS – The European Union said on Tuesday it wanted China to present “verifiable evidence” that the tennis player Peng Shuai safety and to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into her sexual assault allegations.
Peng, a three-time track and field athlete and former top-ranked doubles athlete, has abandoned public view after accusing a former Communist Party official of sexual assault.
Peng has had only a few face-to-face interactions with officials outside of China since she disappeared from public view earlier this month. She told Olympic officials on a November 21 video call from Beijing that she was safe and healthy.
“Her recent public reappearance does not alleviate concerns about her safety and freedom,” an EU spokesman said.
Peng brought online sexual assault allegations against a former member of the Communist Party’s ruling Standing Committee, Zhang Gaoli. The tennis player’s post was deleted within minutes and she stopped appearing in public.
“The EU joins the growing international demands, including among sports professionals, to ensure that she is free and not threatened,” the EU said in a statement. “In this spirit, the EU requires the Chinese government to provide verifiable evidence of Peng Shuai’s safety, health and whereabouts. The EU calls on the Chinese authorities to conduct an investigation. full, fair and transparent investigation of her sexual assault allegations.”
An increasing number of Chinese businessmen, activists and citizens have disappeared from public view in recent years, Peng said, after criticizing party figures or during crackdowns on corruption. or pro-democracy and labor rights campaigns.
“The EU strongly opposes the use of enforced disappearance and arbitrary detention procedures … and calls on China to comply with its human rights obligations under national and international law,” the EU said. “.
