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An employee of Chinese state TV has posted photos of missing tennis star Peng Shuai online in a new effort to dispel concern about her disappearance after she accused a senior leader of sexual assault. (More Tennis News)Â
The photos appeared Friday on Twitter, which cannot be seen by most internet users in China. The state TV employee, Shen Shiwei, wrote they were on Peng바카라™s account on the WeChat message service with the comment, 바카라śHappy Weekend.바카라ť
The ruling Communist Party faces mounting appeals from tennis stars and the sport바카라™s professional tour to prove Peng, a three-time Olympian and former No. 1-ranked women바카라™s doubles player, is safe and let her speak freely.
Meanwhile, the editor of a newspaper published by the party said Peng would 바카라śshow up in public바카라ť soon.
The controversy is politically awkward as the Chinese capital prepares to hold the Winter Olympics in February. A Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Friday denied knowing about the outcry over Peng바카라™s disappearance.
Peng, 35, hasn바카라™t been seen in public since posting a statement on social media this month accusing Zhang Gaoli, a former member of the party바카라™s Standing Committee, the ruling inner circle of power, of forcing her to have sex despite repeated refusals.
Shen works for CGTN, the English-language arm of China Central Television that is aimed at foreign audiences. His Twitter post came after CGTN this week distributed a statement it said came from Peng that retracted the accusations against Zhang.
The editor of Global Times, an English-language newspaper published by the Communist Party, said on Twitter he had confirmed from unidentified sources that the photos 바카라śare indeed Peng Shuai바카라™s current state.바카라ť
바카라śIn the past few days, she stayed in her own home freely and she didn바카라™t want to be disturbed,바카라ť wrote the editor, Hu Xijin. 바카라śShe will show up in public and participate in some activities soon.바카라ť
The photos showed Peng with a gray cat and holding a panda figurine in what appeared to be a private home with stuffed animals lined up behind her. There was no indication when the photos were taken.
Steve Simon, the chairman and CEO of the Women바카라™s Tennis Association, reacted Saturday to a video purporting to show the tennis player at a restaurant.
바카라śI am glad to see the videos released by China state-run media that appear to show Peng Shuai at a restaurant in Beijing. While it is positive to see her, it remains unclear if she is free and able to make decisions and take actions on her own, without coercion or external interference. This video alone is insufficient,바카라ť Simon said.
바카라śAs I have stated from the beginning, I remain concerned about Peng Shuai바카라™s health and safety and that the allegation of sexual assault is being censored and swept under the rug. I have been clear about what needs to happen and our relationship with China is at a crossroads.바카라ť
Simon has threatened to pull the WTA바카라™s events out of China. That means almost a dozen next year, including the WTA Finals.
Emma Terho, the chair of the International Olympic Committee Athletes바카라™ Commission, tweeted Saturday that the body 바카라śis very concerned about the situation of three-time Olympian Peng Shuai.바카라ť
바카라śWe support the quiet diplomacy approach that is being taken and hope it will lead to the release of information about the whereabouts of Peng Shuai and confirmation of her safety and well-being,바카라ť Terho added.
