U.S. government officials have taken notice of Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai's absence from public life since Nov. 2 when, in a social media post, she accused a Chinese government official of sexual harassment.
"While it is positive to see her [on recent video posts], it remains unclear if she is free and able to make decisions and take actions on her own, without coercion or external interference," Women's Tennis Assocation Chairman Steve Simon said in a statement. "I have been clear about what needs to happen and our relationship with China is at a crossroads.”
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said on Nov. 19, "We are deeply concerned by reports that Peng Shuai appears to be missing after accusing a former PRC [People's Republic of China] senior official of sexual assault. We join in the calls for PRC authorities to provide independent and verifiable proof of her whereabouts and that she is safe."
State Department spokesman Ned Price said that officials are aware that the Chinese government had released a video of Shuai earlier this month and that they would continue monitoring events as they unfolded, adding, "because of the broader principle at play, and that is one of support for the ability of any individual to report sexual assault and to seek accountability and to know that that report will be investigated and to have that confidence without fear of reprisal, without fear of intimidation, without fear of harassment.
"And it’s especially concerning in the PRC context to see this, because we know that the PRC has a track record of zero tolerance for criticism and a record of silencing those who would dare to speak out," Price said
Human Rights Watch said in a statement that the International Olympic Committee is partly to blame because they participated with the Chinese government in holding a video call with Peng Shuai.
“If the IOC wants to credibly claim it’s a ‘force for good,’ it needs to stop participating in the Chinese government’s repressive practices,” said Yaqiu Wang, senior China researcher at Human Rights Watch. “The IOC should, instead, be standing up for human rights and the freedom and safety of athletes.”
House Foreign Affairs Committee ranking member Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), along with Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.), submitted a letter to China's ambassador to the United States Qin Gang, asking for evidence of Peng Shuai’s safety.
In addition Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has stated that he supports Simon’s efforts to "unwind its associations in China" if the Chinese government continues to deny there is a problem.
