(London) The UK on Saturday urged China to provide “verifiable evidence” of the “safety and whereabouts” of Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai, who has not come forward publicly since she took over. accused a former Communist Party official of forcing her to have sex.
“We are extremely concerned about the apparent disappearance of Peng Shuai and are following the case closely,” the British Foreign Office said in a statement, adding that Beijing should “urgently provide verifiable evidence of his safety and its location ”.
“Everyone should be allowed to speak out without fear of repercussions. All reported cases of sexual assault, anywhere in the world, must be investigated, ”the ministry added.
London’s demand for transparency comes after those of the United States and the UN, as images of Peng Shuai on the internet, posted by official Chinese media, have caused trouble.
SCREENSHOT
AFP was unable to confirm the location or the conditions in which the footage was shot.
Peng Shuai, 35, former world number 1 doubles player and star in her country, has not come forward publicly since she accused Zhang Gaoli, a powerful ex-Communist Party official 40 years her senior, of having forced her to have sex.