中国テニス選手の告発、政府は沈黙 消息不明に心配の声高まる

【北京ＡＦＰ＝時事】女子テニスの彭帥（中国、３５）が中国の前副首相から性的関係を強要されたと告発した問題で、同国政府は１５日も沈黙を貫いた。彭は告発以来消息を絶っており、テニス界などからは心配する声が高まっている。（写真は女子テニスの彭帥）
　女子テニス協会（ＷＴＡ）は前日、四大大会（グランドスラム）のウィンブルドン選手権と全仏オープンの女子ダブルスで優勝経験を持つ彭の告発内容について、「検閲のない、徹底的かつ公正、透明な調査」を求めると発表。
　ＷＴＡのスティーブ・サイモン最高経営責任者（ＣＥＯ）は、同選手をめぐる一連の出来事に「深い懸念」を示し、告発に関して「厳粛に対処」するよう呼び掛けた。
　中国外務省の趙立堅報道官は、膨らみ続ける疑惑に関する質問に「その件については聞いていない」と回答。「これは外交問題ではない」とし、それ以上のコメントはしなかった。セクハラ告発運動「＃ＭｅＴｏｏ（私も）」が中国共産党の上層部に及ぶのは初めて。
　サイモンＣＥＯは米紙ニューヨーク・タイムズに対し、「中国テニス協会（ＣＴＡ）など複数の関係筋から、彼女の無事と、身の危険にはさらされていないという確認を得ている」と話しているが、彭の安全に関しては、男子の世界１位ノバク・ジョコビッチ（セルビア）ら現役プレーヤーのほか、元選手からも懸念が示されている。
　女子ダブルス元世界１位の彭は先日、張高麗前副首相からレイプされたと中国版ツイッターの微博（ウェイボー）で訴えた後、中国のインターネットとＳＮＳから告発内容の詳細を削除された。
　主要ポータルサイトでは現在、２人の名前を検索してもヒットしない。彭のアカウントには直リンクからアクセスできるが、微博上でアカウントを調べても出てこない状態となっている。
　中国テニス協会はＡＦＰの取材に対してコメントしていない。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】

〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2021/11/17-13:06）

China kept silent Monday over growing concern for tennis star Peng Shuai, who has not been heard from since accusing a powerful politician of sexual assault -- the first time the #MeToo movement has struck at the top echelons of the ruling Communist Party.
The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) called Sunday for Peng's claims to be investigated fully, fairly, transparently and without censorship, and current and former players, including men's world number one Novak Djokovic, have expressed fear for the safety of the former Wimbledon and French Open doubles champion.
Asked to respond to the mounting questions, foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said: I have not heard of the issue you raised.
He added that this is not a diplomatic question and made no further comment on the fate of the former world number one doubles player.
Details of Peng's reported accusations, made earlier this month that former vice-premier Zhang Gaoli had sexually assaulted her, remain scrubbed from China's Internet. Searches for their names on key portals come back empty.
Searches for her account on China's Twitter-like Weibo platform also returned no results, although the account was still accessible via a direct web link.
China's national tennis association did not respond to AFP requests for comment.
In its statement, the WTA's chairman Steve Simon said the events concerning Peng were of deep concern and called for her claims to be treated with the utmost seriousness.
Our absolute and unwavering priority is the health and safety of our players. We are speaking out so justice can be done, the statement said.
Separately, Simon told the New York Times: We've received confirmation from several sources, including the Chinese Tennis Association, that she is safe and not under any physical threat.
- 'Shocking' -
Men's number one Djokovic, speaking after his ATP Tour Finals match against Casper Ruud on Monday, described the situation as terrible.
Honestly it's shocking that she's missing, said the Serb.
More so that it's someone that I've seen on the tour in previous years quite a few times.
There's not much more to say than to hope that she's ok and it's just terrible... I can imagine how her family feels, you know, that she's missing.
Chris Evert, the 18-time Grand Slam winner, on Sunday became the highest profile current or former female player to join social media expressions of concern that have given rise to the Twitter hashtag #WhereIsPengShuai.
Evert called the situation very disturbing.
I've known Peng since she was 14; we should all be concerned; this is serious; where is she? Is she safe? Any information would be appreciated, Evert tweeted.
Earlier this month, Peng, 35, reportedly wrote on social media that Zhang -- who is in his seventies -- forced her into sex and said they had an on-off relationship lasting several years.
The Weibo post appeared to have been deleted quickly and AFP was unable to verify the authenticity of screenshots containing the allegation or substantiate the claims made in them.
China's online censors moved rapidly to erase evidence of the reported allegations and Peng has not been heard from since.