By Yew Lun Tian

BEIJING (Reuters – Peng Shuai was a Chinese tennis pro and appeared to be on a conference call with the Olympics chief. But the ex-vice premier that she accuses of sexual assault remained silent and away from sight – keeping China’s elite in secrecy.

Zhang Gaoli (75 years old) was previously accused in Nov. 2 of forcing her to have sex with him three years back. Peng stated that Zhang Gaoli, the vice premier at Beijing’s upcoming Winter Games was in a long-term consensual affair with Peng. He then broke it off.

Soon after publishing her post, the topic was taken down. However, after she was gone for three weeks without being seen, there was international concern about her safety. This was accompanied with the hashtag #WhereIsPengShuai.

Peng, who is 35 years old, has made numerous appearances in the last weekend. They also had a video chat with Thomas Bach (president of International Olympic Committee), but this did not dispel concerns from fellow athletes or global organizations about Peng’s welfare. Amnesty International charged the IOC as well as Bach with participating in “a whitewash of possible violations of human rights by China” in advance of the Games.

Zhang is less well-known, as he retired in 2018 and unlike most other top Chinese leaders remains out of public view in retirement. Reuters could not verify the statements of Peng.

China’s State Council Information Office has yet to respond to a comment request. It also did not comment on Peng’s post and Zhang’s comments.

Alfred Wu, Associate Professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy Singapore said: “Letting Zhang speak out will lead to a reputational damage that it doesn’t want just prior the Winter Games.”

Zhang said that even if they do decide to institute internal disciplinary actions against Zhang, it will not be announced immediately. He added, “But, they’ll wait for the storms to pass first, so as show strength.”

TIANJIN BOSS

Zhang made his last public appearance on July 1st, when he was sitting on the Forbidden city’s southern ramparts in Beijing to commemorate the 100th anniversary the founding China’s Communist Party. This location is near the Great Hall of the People, where he had made an “solemn promise” for a successful launch of the Beijing Olympic Organising Committee’s Winter Games six years ago.

From 2007 to 2012，Zhang was the top political leader in the city of Tianjin. He was responsible for the rapid growth of China’s once-disgraced metropolis, southeast Beijing, which had been at its lowest point in 2007.

From 2013 to 2018, he served as the top vice premier and was responsible for economic affairs, which included President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative. He also headed a small “leading group” that managed the Winter Olympics, before being handed over to Han Zheng, current vice prime minister.

According to an English-language report by the Chinese government, he told Bach that he had met Bach in 2016 and was telling him to make sure that the IOC’s 2022 Beijing Winter Games were “fantastic, extraordinary, and outstanding”.

Peng stated in her Weibo(NASDAQ: ) post that Zhang first introduced her to Peng and she had sex together in Tianjin. He rekindled the romance with her shortly after Zhang had retired.

You stopped reaching out to me when you were promoted in Beijing. Everything was something I wanted to keep in my heart. You don’t want to accept responsibility so why are you looking for me and forcing me to have sex at your home? Then she wrote:

Peng claimed in her post, that Zhang Jie’s wife knew of the affair. Much less is known about Kang than the wives of many of China’s top political figures, even her age. Kang and her husband have a son.

HISTOLOGY OF SILENCE

Zhang’s silence is consistent in how the party leaders dealt with the allegations in the past, from corruption claims in Panama Papers and rumours about extramarital affairs. Experts agree.

Xi made a sweeping anti-corruption campaign a signature of his nine year tenure. He demanded party leaders “be able pass the most difficult tests” in political, professional, and family morals.

Zhang is left with no choice but silence according to Chen Daoyin. He was previously an associate professor at Shanghai University of Political Science and Law and is now based Chile.

Chen explained that if he rejects, he is not credible. Because everyone in China now knows from Xi’s anticorruption campaign that it’s common for Chinese officials use their power to sex.

In most cases, sexual misconduct allegations against government officials are mentioned only after an investigation into political or economic crime.

China’s #MeToo movement is experiencing renewed attention after the Peng trial. Zhang is the only high-ranking party official to be similarly charged.

Wu Qiang (a Beijing-based author) said that the party views itself above the law, and was not responsible to any other than its leaders.

Peng might be seen as a symbol for China’s feminist movement if he makes the admission to Peng, which could potentially challenge the party’s power.