New Delhi: After the Chinese tennis player made sexual assault charges against one of the country's most influential leaders, China said the drama surrounding Peng Shuai was being "maliciously" ramped up on Tuesday.
While responding to the question that whether this case has impacted China's international image, China's foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said, "I think some people should stop deliberately and maliciously hyping up, let alone politicise this issue."
Peng, a doubles winner at Wimbledon and the French Open, went missing for more than two weeks after accusing a former vice-premier of sexual abuse.
Until Tuesday, Beijing has dismissed queries about her whereabouts and well-being, claiming that they were "not a diplomatic matter."
Her assertions have also been removed from China's heavily restricted internet.
Peng's first appearance:
The 35-year-old made her first public appearance over the weekend when she was spotted at a Beijing tennis event.
The video clip was posted by the editor of the Global Times - a Chinese state-affiliated media - said she was "at the opening ceremony of a teenager tennis match final", reported being the Fila Kids Junior Tennis Challenger Finals.
China Open also published pictures of Peng at the Fila Kids Junior Tennis Challenger Finals on Sunday.
Evidence Insufficient:
The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) has expressed their concern despite the video and said that the evidence is 'insufficient'. "The photographs and video footage of Peng that emerged on Sunday remain 'insufficient'," told WTA to Reuters.
"We are extremely concerned at the apparent disappearance of Peng Shuai, and are following the case closely," a UK foreign office said to AFP. The statement also added that Beijing "should urgently provide verifiable evidence of her safety and whereabouts".