"The Peng Shuai Incident Revives China's #MeToo Movement"

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] Reports have emerged that Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai's sexual assault allegations are reigniting the Me Too movement in China.

Hong Kong's South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported on the 6th, "Peng Shuai's allegations disappeared immediately from social media, and related mentions are strictly censored online, but they are encouraging the Me Too movement in China."

Peng Shuai, who once ranked world No. 1 in women's doubles tennis, revealed on Weibo on the 2nd of last month that she was sexually assaulted by former Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli. However, the post was deleted within 20 minutes, and Peng Shuai went missing for a while, raising concerns in the international community.

Currently in China, Peng Shuai's allegations are continuously shared through various indirect channels. It is reported that posts related to Peng Shuai are circulating in the form of screenshots, graphics, links, and even blockchain.

AFP reported, "Chinese netizens are discussing Peng Shuai's case using various creative methods to evade censorship." For example, they refer to the case using expressions like 'tsigua' (eating watermelon), which means 'enjoying gossip,' or 'that person,' referring to former Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli.

On Weibo's tennis topic page, comments such as 'big watermelon,' 'eating watermelon,' and 'even if I fall asleep, I have to get up to eat watermelon' were posted.

The Peng Shuai case has attracted international attention as the WTA Tour and tennis stars expressed concern for Peng Shuai's safety and called for an investigation into her allegations.

Some netizens showed support for Peng Shuai by commenting on Weibo posts announcing the 2021 tournament winners of the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) with messages like "I support the WTA" and "Please respect all women."

A women's rights activist said, "Peng Shuai's case has brought the Me Too movement in China to a new peak," adding, "It is the first time the voices of female victims exposing the dark side of China's top officials have been heard."

She continued, "Many people who spoke out publicly against power in China have disappeared," and added, "Without the WTA's strong statement, we would not know when we could see Peng Shuai's face again."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.