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On Monday, French sports activities every day L’Équipe printed an interview with Peng Shuai, her first look with an unbiased or worldwide media group since she accused former vice-premier Zhang Gaoli of sexual assault in a Weibo put up on November 2. Within the highly-orchestrated interview supervised by an official from the Chinese language Olympic Committee (COC), Peng denied the accusation she beforehand made and proclaimed her personal well-being. She informed L’Équipe, to skepticism from many following her case around the globe, that her life since November 2 “has been what it’s alleged to be: nothing particular.”
[ENGLISH VERSION] For the primary time since her public reappearance and the turmoil brought on by her 2 November message, Chinese language tennis participant Peng Shuai talks to a world and unbiased medium. https://t.co/8ygjVnKZOz pic.twitter.com/cGA57iwhDA
— L’ÉQUIPE (@lequipe) February 6, 2022
The interview was performed by L’Équipe sports activities journalists Sophie Dorgan and Marc Ventouillac, who’ve been in Beijing reporting on the Winter Olympics. They are saying they sought the interview “regardless of the boundaries and constraints the interview could be subjected to, understanding full properly [Peng Shuai] would repeat her earlier phrases” from a December 2021 interview with a Chinese language state-media outlet during which she disowned her authentic accusation. In an introduction to the interview transcript, printed in a uncommon English version of L’Équipe, Dorgan and Ventouillac described how they obtained the interview and the circumstances below which it was held:
It appeared to us that the most secure technique to contact her was by means of the Chinese language Olympic Committee (COC). […] The request was submitted with little hope for achievement and considering that even when the interview have been granted, every phrase could be most rigorously weighed. We despatched our request by means of the IOC to Mr Gou Zhongwen, President of the COC, on 18 January. The response got here final Thursday solely, within the type of an electronic mail from Mr Wang Kan, COC Chief of Workers, during which he defined the athlete had agreed to fulfill with us offered that she would reply in Chinese language, that she would obtain the questions prematurely and that the interview could be printed with none remark.
As for us, we had informed them the COC wouldn’t examine the interview beforehand, and we knew we would wish to look past the athlete’s phrases. The interview was confirmed for yesterday morning at 11:30, Chinese language time, in a flowery Beijing lodge the place the COC has established its quarters.
[…] The dialogue was anticipated to final half an hour however it ran for nearly twice that. We have been allowed to ask extra questions than deliberate, even these not explicitly written on the checklist we had agreed to ship. [Source]
Juste un mot, un seul : je pense fort à Peng Shuai. pic.twitter.com/mTuiY25C29
— Sophie Dorgan (@sophiedorgan) February 7, 2022
Through the interview, COC chief-of-staff Wang Kan remained within the room. Whereas Peng had previously used English in press conferences on tour with the Girls’s Tennis Affiliation (WTA), she replied to the interview questions in Chinese language. Wang translated her responses, however L’Équipe verified her responses with a translator in Paris earlier than publishing.
这张照片虽然没有记录一切,但信息量已经够大! pic.twitter.com/j3JWHncEIN
— 星哥 (@ljesseliujx) February 7, 2022
#PengShuai‘s Olympic ‘pressured confession’: Communist minders are caught lurking within the background of Chinese language tennis star’s new interview
2 minders accompanied her: Wang Kan, the Chinese language Olympic Committee chief of workers, a lady who didn’t establish herselfhttps://t.co/Kz1hm4DBlz pic.twitter.com/IxcoUHFtk7
— Yaxue Cao (@YaxueCao) February 7, 2022
The transcript of the interview dove straight into the controversy of her accusation and disappearance. Concerning her accusation, she stated: “Sexual assault? I by no means stated anybody had sexually assaulted me in any manner.” On the deletion of her Weibo put up, she stated: “I erased it. […] Why? As a result of I needed to.” L’Équipe didn’t comply with as much as ask why Peng posted it within the first place. As for her disappearance from the general public view, she stated: “I by no means disappeared. Everybody may see me.” Peng additionally acknowledged that the WTA psychological help workforce despatched her an electronic mail earlier than and after the WTA’s November 14 assertion concerning fears of her disappearance, which she discovered “a bit extreme,” prompting her to reply personally to WTA chairman Steve Simon. “A number of copies have been despatched and I wrote these emails myself. It was my private assertion,” Peng stated.
Peng Shuai to L’Equipe: “I wish to thank all of the personalities who cared about me. I didn’t assume there could be such concern and I wish to know: why such concern?” 😮
“I by no means stated anybody sexually assaulted me.”
— Luigi Gatto (@gigicat7_) February 7, 2022
Peng could or is probably not saying what she really thinks — we merely don’t know. Orgs ought to assume twice earlier than participating along with her. Don’t ask an individual how she feels understanding she will be able to’t communicate freely. Don’t be performed into being a part of the CCP propaganda scheme.
— Yaqiu Wang 王亚秋 (@Yaqiu) February 7, 2022
Different questions: who organised the proof of life fashion movies which have been distributed to indicate that you just have been OK? Did the individual organising them ask these on digicam to maintain mentioning the date once you have been having dinner? Who filmed the date on the restaurant entrance for the video?
— Stephen McDonell (@StephenMcDonell) February 7, 2022
Through the interview, Peng additionally introduced that she would retire from skilled tennis. The 36-year-old athlete—as soon as ranked because the world’s primary doubles participant—referenced the pandemic, her age, and a number of knee surgical procedures which have made it troublesome for her to renew taking part in at a aggressive stage. She acknowledged, “Deep down, I hoped, dreaming of profitable a medal [in the Tokyo Olympics,] however as a result of my knee was injured, I couldn’t participate ….” Peng additionally turned down the journalists’ invitation from French tennis participant Nicolas Mahut to play combined doubles with him on the subsequent French Open, though she remained open to becoming a member of a veterans’ workforce throughout retirement.
j’think about la complexité d’une telle interview… on ne t’oublie pas!#pengshuai @sophiedorgan pic.twitter.com/YfBYFolafF
— Nico Mahut (@nmahut) February 7, 2022
On Thursday, after being pressed by reporters, Worldwide Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach vowed to help an investigation into Peng’s accusation of sexual assault, however provided that it have been her resolution. An extended-awaited assembly between Bach and Peng occurred over dinner on the Olympic Membership in Beijing on Saturday, the evening earlier than her interview with L’Équipe. The 2 have been joined by Kirsty Coventry, former chair of the Athletes’ Fee and an IOC member. An IOC spokesperson declined to say whether or not the IOC believed that Peng was talking below duress from the Chinese language authorities, as a substitute stating: “I don’t assume it’s a judgment for the I.O.C. to make — we’re a sporting group […] I don’t assume it’s as much as us to have the ability to decide, simply because it’s not so that you can decide, both, in a method or one other, her place.” A separate assertion from the IOC described the Saturday night assembly between Peng and IOC officers:
Peng Shuai knowledgeable the President that she would attend a number of occasions on the Olympic Winter Video games Beijing 2022 over the approaching days. Later that night, she and Kirsty Coventry attended the combined curling match between China and Norway.
Through the dinner, the three spoke about their frequent expertise as athletes on the Olympic Video games, and Peng Shuai spoke of her disappointment at not having the ability to qualify for the Olympic Video games Tokyo 2020. On this context, she additionally shared her intention to journey to Europe when the COVID-19 pandemic is over, and the IOC President invited her to Lausanne to go to the IOC and The Olympic Museum, to proceed the dialog on their Olympic experiences. Peng Shuai accepted this invitation.
Kirsty Coventry and Peng Shuai additionally agreed that they might stay in touch. And all three agreed that any additional communication concerning the content material of the assembly could be left to her discretion. [Source]
Sadly this rigorously worded assertion doesn’t make clear whether or not Peng Shuai is actually free.
It’s disappointing that the IOC hasn’t used the leverage it has to get Peng Shuai out of a scenario that most probably entails state management over Peng’s liberty. pic.twitter.com/2zZ9MV2A0A
— William Nee (@williamnee) February 7, 2022
🧵The IOC’s shameful exploitation of Peng Shuai on the #BeijingWinterOlympics is so upsetting. Jogs my memory of how China’s Feminist 5 activists have been retraumatized upon their launch from detention in 2015. Right here is an excerpt from my e book, Betraying Large Brother: pic.twitter.com/rma2G1xqqn
— Dr. Leta Hong Fincher 洪理达 (@LetaHong) February 7, 2022
On Monday, after Peng’s interview with L’Équipe, the WTA acknowledged that its place remained unchanged:
“It’s at all times good to see Peng Shuai, whether or not in an interview or attending the Olympic Video games.
Nonetheless, her latest in-person interview doesn’t alleviate any of our issues about her preliminary put up from November 2nd.
We proceed to carry agency on our place.”
— wta (@WTA) February 7, 2022
WTA stays unmoved by Peng Shuai’s rigorously managed interview with L’Equipe.
Assertion out simply now: pic.twitter.com/JaErUON2oj
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) February 7, 2022
In the meantime, Chinese language information web sites and social media are devoid of any point out of Peng Shuai, and Chinese language diplomats proceed to deflect when questioned about her.
Simply so you’re conscious: Whereas Twitter is ablaze with #PengShuai (trending final evening), it is darkish and quiet in China. Nada. Peng Shuai is free as a chook, yay. pic.twitter.com/aEbo6OkRB2
— Yaxue Cao (@YaxueCao) February 7, 2022
🎾 Affaire #PengShuai : « je n’ai pas suivi cette affaire-là […] ça ne m’intéresse pas »
💬 Lu Shaye, ambassadeur de Chine en France (@AmbassadeChine)@ThomasSotto #8h10actu @francetvsport pic.twitter.com/N8bDyJbSBl
— Telematin (@telematin) February 3, 2022
Such an odd selection, to grant a supervised interview with Peng Shuai within the French sports activities every day L’Equipe. Once more she assures the world she is okay. And he or she deleted her Weibo message, “As a result of I felt prefer it.” Chilling in opposition to whole silence inside China. https://t.co/BeNpu9Gujw pic.twitter.com/wmfAfOhvB8
— China Media Venture (@cnmediaproject) February 7, 2022
Now that Peng has been interviewed by a world media outlet, some surprise how her scenario will evolve from right here. At China Change, Yaxue Cao argued that Peng’s case has adopted the CCP’s predictable storyline: a denial below duress, suppression of public dialogue, and accusations that the worldwide neighborhood are “hyping” the occasion to denigrate China. Peng, like many high-profile people who fell afoul of the CCP and have been subsequently introduced to the media below shut supervision, publicly disavowed her authentic claims in a manner that resembled a pressured confession. Her feedback, which echoed CCP speaking factors, will now facilitate the CCP’s makes an attempt to discredit her accusation and dismiss issues about her well-being:
There was an enormous misunderstanding within the exterior world following this put up. I don’t need the which means of this put up to be twisted anymore. And I don’t need any additional media hype round it.
[…] To start with, I’d wish to say that emotions, sports activities and politics are three very distinct issues. My lovelife issues, my private life should not be mingled with sports activities and politics. And sports activities should not be politicised as a result of when that occurs, more often than not it means turning one’s again on the Olympic spirit and it goes in opposition to the need of the sporting world and the athletes. [Source]
The straightforward fact is, #Pengshuai is pressured to say what the Chinese language authorities need her to say.
It’s a refined “pressured TV confession”.
— 滕彪 (@tengbiao) February 7, 2022
Observe #PengShuai wore a jacket w “中国” (China) on it in Dec itvw; she once more wore a “中国”jacket in l’equipe itvw.
It’s by design, from what she says to what she wears. It’s the Chinese language govt claiming sovereignty over Peng Shuai. It’s a warning to foreigners, particularly to @WTA https://t.co/es76l9Vpja pic.twitter.com/QH4hRpWxWj
— Yaxue Cao (@YaxueCao) February 7, 2022
Suggest this 🥇piece from @YaxueCao. A lot of her predictions🔨, incl PS’ pressured retirement. #PengShuai “can have little selection however to say what’s put in her mouth, and to do what she is requested to do.”
What Awaits #PengShuai https://t.co/kd4HeYaE47 by way of @ChinaChange_org
— Andréa Worden, J.D. 吴玉婷 (@tingdc) February 7, 2022
Dusting off this outdated op-ed on the #HK booksellers:
“One other frequent tactic are so-called pre-trial TV “confessions” – Lam alleges {that a} public assertion he made – was actually scripted by the authorities, and that he had no selection however to say it”https://t.co/JtUL3r54Wq pic.twitter.com/LYoKNx9QP2
— William Nee (@williamnee) February 7, 2022
Critically essential factors from @Peterinexile. #PengShuai isn’t talking freely. Nor does she have freedom of motion or affiliation. Her new feminine #IOC minder, Kirsty Coventry, who’s she? Did #PengShuai keen go to the curling occasion along with her, if that truly occurred? https://t.co/zOrLD6XHfN
— Andréa Worden, J.D. 吴玉婷 (@tingdc) February 7, 2022
Apparently confined to Beijing, pressured to retire, and below strict surveillance, Peng could by no means be able to present a extra open interview to different worldwide media retailers. Nonetheless dismal her possibilities of freely expressing herself and regaining her life as “a superbly regular woman, a superbly peculiar tennis participant,” Peng’s preliminary Weibo put up and private wrestle are a testomony her irrepressible power that can encourage extra girls to talk out, as Lü Pin wrote in Dissent Journal (translated by CDT’s Anne Henochowicz):
“I’m throwing eggs on the wall,” Peng Shuai wrote in her Weibo put up. “I’m a moth to the flame. I’m courting catastrophe.” She should have identified the danger she was taking when she typed out Zhang Gaoli’s identify.
[…] By lastly telling her story—a narrative of resistance whose major topic is a lady, a narrative of the coercion, domination, and intimidation she has personally suffered—Peng Shuai has testified to the violence of these in energy. Although she hasn’t introduced any proof, her testimony is genuine. Individuals have at all times identified “they” are degenerate, brutal, and cavalier. Peng’s testimony is surprising just because it’s vivid, concrete proof of this. Extra infuriating is that even a lady as exceptional and unbiased as her couldn’t save herself from predation.
[…] Peng described herself as “nugatory” and talked about greater than as soon as that she needed to die. This actually proves the persistence of her shallowness. Like different victims, Peng is aware of in her coronary heart that she shouldn’t be handled like this. That is the actual purpose she spoke out: to not search justice, however to talk her fact and restore her sense of self. I’m certain that Peng had already made this judgment when she hit “put up.” This should be the journey of so many ladies of the #MeToo motion: they blame themselves for not being the right sufferer, they usually don’t have any manner of understanding how the general public will react; but they nonetheless communicate out, not simply out of impulse, however due to an irrepressible power inside them.
[…] And but I’m certain this isn’t the tip. So long as Peng outlives her abuser, she wins, regardless of all of the hardship she should undergo. As for different girls, I imagine a lot of them have absorbed her message: to be vigilant concerning the brutality of this technique, to name out girls’s grievances and struggling, to demand justice. Whereas they’re being silenced, girls are studying to mix their voices. Who is aware of what the refrain will develop into tomorrow. [Source]
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