Journalist who interviewed Peng Shuai casts doubt over her freedom

One of the journalists who conducted the first sit-down interview with Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai said that the carefully controlled conversation did not answer questions about whether she can speak her mind or move freely.

A Chinese Olympic official was in the room and translated the conversation with Peng, who disappeared from public view for weeks last year after she made public allegations that a former top-ranked Communist party official pressured her into having sex.

Her social media post was deleted quickly, and Peng was not seen for a couple weeks, then appeared only in photo opportunities arranged by Chinese officials. Worries about her led to a global outpouring of fears for her safety.

In the L’Equipe interview this week, Peng denied she had been sexually assaulted and said the social media post which triggered the controversy has been misunderstood.

“Sexual assault? I never said that anyone made me submit to a sexual assault,” the newspaper quoted her as saying.

“This post resulted in an enormous misunderstanding from the outside world,” she also said. “My wish is that the meaning of this post no longer be skewed.”

Marc Ventouillac, one of two journalists for French sports daily L’Equipe who spoke to Peng this week in a restrictive interview arranged with Chinese Olympic officials, says he is still unsure if she is free.

“It’s impossible to say,” he said in English, saying the interview did not prove that she was safe.

Ventouillac says China’s intent was clear to him: by granting the interview as Beijing is hosting the Winter Olympics, Chinese officials hope to put the controversy to rest, so it doesn’t overshadow the event.

“It’s a part of communication, propaganda, from the Chinese Olympic Committee,”