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"Peng accused the former vice premier Zhang Gaoli of having coerced her into sex" She then seems to have vanished and then various clumsily handled "sightings"

"Peng accused the former vice premier Zhang Gaoli of having coerced her into sex" She then seems to have vanished and then various clumsily handled "sightings" were obviously orchestrated. Then we have this "retraction" nonsense. It's all a bit clumsy. There is absolutely no point in even trying to cover up a cover up like this. I can only conclude it is to provide some form of coverage for domestic use. Whatever the relative merits of Peng's accusation, her subsequent treatment is not the act of a nation governed even vaguely equitably. There is no attempt to demonstrate some form of judicial process, whereby an accusation is investigated in some way. The accuser simply disappeared and then surfaces periodically and I suspect that it is only the fact that she is an important sports person that this ridiculous process is being carried out. Depending on how charitable you are feeling, the handling of Peng's "story" by the local authorities is either breathtakingly naive or callously dismissive. (Edit: spelling)

whimsicalism 5y ago
Yeah, it really seems like China does not care strongly about its international image or has no sense of how things will play internationally.
- cortesoft 5y ago
  Well, no other country has stood up to China on these abuses, so obviously they cover up their actions well enough to maintain their international standing.
  - whimsicalism 5y ago
    Aren't tennis tournaments now suspended in China?
    - chongli 5y ago
      I think their point is that governments are not interested in holding China accountable. What the WTA did was admirable in standing up for their player but they are only the governing body of a sport, not the government of any country.
    - kingofpandora 5y ago
      As I understand, only the women's tennis association has done so. Everyone else is proceeding as usual.
- gerdesj 5y ago
  When a country doesn't seem to care about it's image, ie "callously dismissive" (my words) then we might conclude that it might think itself invulnerable. Invulnerability is a funny old thing. The canonical quote must be "Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!"
cortesoft 5y ago
> There is absolutely no point in even trying to cover up a cover up like this It gives enough deniability for companies and countries that do business with China and don’t actually care about how China treats its citizens, but can’t just say they don’t care, to go about business as normal.
throwawaylinux 5y ago
I think "the west" is just as desperate for ways they can put this issue behind them and try to carry on with making money with China, which is what these responses are designed for. China's clumsy manufactured responses obviously would have been good enough for the west in the past when "the deciders" were always in charge. The problem is now with social media the issue has got away from the ruling class somewhat so it's taking some time to reign in these various celebrities and athletes and other influencers who have gone off-script and are perpetuating the problem for them (contrast this with the recent polished and professional responses from the NBA and their comfy relationship with genocide and slavery, with the complicity of the corporate media to sweep that little problem under the carpet -- no doubt the WTA are green with envy that their response has not been so good, it may not be a coincidence that Yao Ming has shown up here). I mean the ruling class does not care about people over money. Not here, and not in China. Compare it to the many far more problematic things that happen everywhere, from Afghanistan to Assange to Xinjiang to Qatar. Certainly not one woman's sexual assault. Tara Reade got essentially the same treatment. I have no doubt western corporations and governments and news/propaganda companies will continue to work together with the CCP with the usual back scratching and favors changing hands until the messaging is right and we can put this whole thing behind us.
- moistly 5y ago
  Democracy, oligarchy, dictatorship, it’s all more or less the same for a corporation. As long as profits are higher than costs, it’s all the same for them.

whimsicalism 5y ago

Yeah, it really seems like China does not care strongly about its international image or has no sense of how things will play internationally.

cortesoft 5y ago
Well, no other country has stood up to China on these abuses, so obviously they cover up their actions well enough to maintain their international standing.
- whimsicalism 5y ago
  Aren't tennis tournaments now suspended in China?
  - chongli 5y ago
    I think their point is that governments are not interested in holding China accountable. What the WTA did was admirable in standing up for their player but they are only the governing body of a sport, not the government of any country.
  - kingofpandora 5y ago
    As I understand, only the women's tennis association has done so. Everyone else is proceeding as usual.
gerdesj 5y ago
When a country doesn't seem to care about it's image, ie "callously dismissive" (my words) then we might conclude that it might think itself invulnerable. Invulnerability is a funny old thing. The canonical quote must be "Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!"

cortesoft 5y ago

> There is absolutely no point in even trying to cover up a cover up like this It gives enough deniability for companies and countries that do business with China and don’t actually care about how China treats its citizens, but can’t just say they don’t care, to go about business as normal.

throwawaylinux 5y ago

I think "the west" is just as desperate for ways they can put this issue behind them and try to carry on with making money with China, which is what these responses are designed for. China's clumsy manufactured responses obviously would have been good enough for the west in the past when "the deciders" were always in charge. The problem is now with social media the issue has got away from the ruling class somewhat so it's taking some time to reign in these various celebrities and athletes and other influencers who have gone off-script and are perpetuating the problem for them (contrast this with the recent polished and professional responses from the NBA and their comfy relationship with genocide and slavery, with the complicity of the corporate media to sweep that little problem under the carpet -- no doubt the WTA are green with envy that their response has not been so good, it may not be a coincidence that Yao Ming has shown up here). I mean the ruling class does not care about people over money. Not here, and not in China. Compare it to the many far more problematic things that happen everywhere, from Afghanistan to Assange to Xinjiang to Qatar. Certainly not one woman's sexual assault. Tara Reade got essentially the same treatment. I have no doubt western corporations and governments and news/propaganda companies will continue to work together with the CCP with the usual back scratching and favors changing hands until the messaging is right and we can put this whole thing behind us.

moistly 5y ago
Democracy, oligarchy, dictatorship, it’s all more or less the same for a corporation. As long as profits are higher than costs, it’s all the same for them.