China Says Tennis Star Peng Shuai's Case "Maliciously Hyped Up"

Peng Shuai case: China says tennis player's case "maliciously" hyped up amid concern about her safety after her sexual assault claim.

China on Tuesday said the controversy surrounding Peng Shuai was being "maliciously" hyped up, after the Chinese tennis star made sexual assault claims against one of the nation's most powerful politicians. Peng, a Wimbledon and French Open doubles champion, was not seen for more than two weeks after she made the sexual assault accusations against a former vice premier. The 35-year-old reappeared in public for the first time at the weekend when she was seen attending a Beijing tennis tournament.

"I think some people should stop deliberately and maliciously hyping up, let alone politicise this issue," said foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian in response to a question on whether the case affected China's international image.

The comment was the most direct response from the Chinese government to Peng's case.

Until Tuesday, Beijing had repeatedly brushed off questions about her whereabouts and welfare -- calling them "not a diplomatic issue".

Evidence of her claims have also been scrubbed from China's highly censored internet.