Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai allegedly accuses top Communist Party leader of sexual assault

One of the world’s leading doubles tennis players has accused a former Chinese vice premier of sexually assaulting her at his house.

China’s Communist leadership has been netted by a #MeToo scandal via a social media post by one of the country’s greatest tennis players.

Peng Shuai, who was once ranked the world’s top doubles player in 2014, has accused former vice premier Zhang Gaoli of sexually assaulting her at his house.

It is believed to be the first such accusation made against a senior Chinese politician.

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The post on Chinese social media platform Weibo was quickly deleted with Chinese authorities moving to halt the allegations spreading.

The retired 75-year-old Zhang was among the seven-member Politburo Standing Committee under China‘s powerful leader Xi Jinping from 2013 to 2018. Reports say Zhang was close to the leader. Zhang has not commented.

Top Communist Party leader Zhang Gaoli. Photo by Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images

The Washington Post said the rare allegation has “sent shockwaves through China, with censors scrambling to delete even vague online references”.

Leta Hong Fincher, author of a book about Chinese feminism, told The Post: “This is pretty explosive. This is precisely why the feminism movement is seen as a threat to the Communist government.”

The 35-year-old Peng allegedly said she had an extramarital “relationship” with Zhang for several years, which he wanted to keep hidden.

The exact details of what occurred and the timeline vary in some reports. She is said to have alleged that he invited her for a meal or to play tennis, with his wife present. He then allegedly pressured her for sex and the assault then allegedly occurred.

Shuai Peng of China has won the Wimbledon and French Open doubles titles alongside Taiwan‘s Hsieh Su-wei. Photo by Fred Lee/Getty Images

“I never consented that afternoon, crying all the time,” the BBC reported her post as containing.

“You brought me to our house and forced me and you to have relations.

“I have no evidence and it has been impossible to leave any evidence … You were always afraid that would bring something like a tape recorder.

“There is no audio record, no video record, only my distorted but very real experience.”

Peng also wrote: “I know that someone of your eminence Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli, you‘ll say that you’re not afraid.

“But even if it‘s just striking a stone with a pebble, or a moth attacking a flame and courting self-destruction, I will tell the truth about you.”

Peng won the Wimbledon (2013) and French Open (2014) doubles titles alongside Taiwan‘s Hsieh Su-wei.

This article originally appeared on the NZ Herald and was reproduced with permission

Originally published as Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai allegedly accuses top Communist Party leader of sexual assault