https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/32665214/china-foreign-ministry-not-aware-situation-surrounding-tennis-player-peng-shuai [svg] Skip to main content Skip to navigation [] [] < > Menu ESPN * Search [ ][SUBMIT] * * scores * NFL * NBA * MLB * NHL * Soccer * NCAAF * ... + MMA + NCAAM + NCAAW + WNBA + Golf + Tennis + Boxing + CFL + Chalk + NCAA + Cricket + F1 + LLWS + NASCAR + NBA G League + Olympic Sports + Racing + RN BB + RN FB + Rugby + WWE + X Games * More ESPN * Fantasy * Listen * Watch * ESPN+ * [i]TennisTennis * HomeHome * ScoresScores * ScheduleSchedule * RankingsRankings * PlayersPlayers * Grand Slam HistoryGrand Slam History * TicketsTickets China says 'not aware' of Peng Shuai situation 12h Barty ends year as WTA's top-ranked player again 1d Zverev joins Djokovic, Medvedev in ATP semis 1d Muguruza wins WTA Finals title over Kontaveit 2d WTA raises 'concerns' on Peng Shuai statement 2d WTA support of Peng Shuai an unprecedented challenge to China 5hDan Murphy Russian Gabashvili accepts 20-month doping ban 5h Final qualifier Ruud claims 4th berth in ATP semis 6h 'King Richard' is Will Smith's latest addition to his impressive list of sports films Philadelphia Eagles 10hWilliam E. Ricks China says 'not aware' of Peng Shuai situation 12h What we know about tennis player Peng Shuai's sexual assault allegations and current whereabouts 1dD'Arcy Maine Barty ends year as WTA's top-ranked player again 1d Zverev joins Djokovic, Medvedev in ATP semis 1d Muguruza wins WTA Finals title over Kontaveit 2d WTA raises 'concerns' on Peng Shuai statement 2d Serena: Indian Wells incident still 'traumatizing' 2dD'Arcy Maine Djokovic reaches ATP Finals semis in title pursuit 2d GB wheelchair tennis great Whiley to retire 2dESPN Tsitsipas withdraws from ATP Finals; Norrie in 2dESPN Osaka among those concerned about Peng Shuai 3d Federer doubts Wimbledon return in 2022 3dReuters Muguruza, Kontaveit to play for WTA Finals title 3d Kyrgios backtracks, wants Aus. Open to proceed 3dAAP Medvedev tops Zverev, on to semis of ATP Finals 3d Raducanu to face Ruse in London match 3dReuters Kyrgios says Aus. Open shouldn't go ahead 4dAAP Sakkari beats Sabalenka, into WTA Finals semis 4d China's Foreign Ministry 'not aware' of situation surrounding tennis player Peng Shuai play Serena Williams calls for answers on Peng Shuai situation (1:45) Jeremy Schaap reports on the disappearance of tennis player Peng Shuai after she accused a former top official of sexually assaulting her. (1:45) * Facebook * Twitter * Facebook Messenger * * Email 6:06 AM ET * Associated Press * * Facebook * Twitter * Facebook Messenger * Pinterest * Email * print BEIJING -- China's Foreign Ministry on Friday stuck to its line that it wasn't aware of the controversy surrounding tennis professional Peng Shuai, who disappeared after accusing a former top official of sexually assaulting her. Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian told reporters that the matter was "not a diplomatic question and I'm not aware of the situation." The ministry has consistently disavowed knowledge of the issue since Peng made her accusation more than two weeks ago. The 35-year-old former top-ranked player in women's doubles won titles at Wimbledon in 2013 and the French Open in 2014. Peng also participated in three Olympics, making her disappearance all the more prominent with Beijing set to host the Winter Games starting Feb. 4. Editor's Picks * [ten_u_sp] WTA support of Peng Shuai an unprecedented challenge to China 1hDan Murphy * [r939003_] What we know about tennis player Peng Shuai's sexual assault allegations and current whereabouts 2hD'Arcy Maine * [r938933_] WTA raises 'concerns' on Peng Shuai statement 22h 2 Related White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Friday that Chinese authorities should "provide independent and verifiable proof of her whereabouts and that she is safe." Liz Throssell, a spokeswoman for the U.N. human rights office in Geneva, said Friday it was calling for "an investigation with full transparency into her allegation of sexual assault." "And I think we would say that that should be the case into all allegations of sexual assault. It is really important to ensure accountability, to ensure justice for the victims," she said. The International Olympic Committee declined to comment Friday, saying in an emailed statement: "Experience shows that quiet diplomacy offers the best opportunity to find a solution for questions of such nature. This explains why the IOC will not comment any further at this stage." Peng wrote in a lengthy social media post on Nov. 2 that she was forced to have sex three years ago with Zhang Gaoli in his home despite repeated refusals. Zhang, 75, is a former vice premier who was a member of the ruling Communist Party's all-powerful Politburo Standing Committee. The post was quickly deleted from Peng's verified account on Weibo, a leading Chinese social media platform, but screenshots of the explosive accusation were shared on the internet. Steve Simon, the chairman and CEO of the Women's Tennis Association, questioned the authenticity of what a Chinese state media outlet said this week was an email intended for him in which Peng said she was safe and that the assault allegation was untrue. It was tweeted by CGTN, the international arm of Chinese state broadcaster CCTV. The State Council Information Office, which represents the Chinese government, did not respond to emailed questions about Peng's current situation and Simon's doubts about the email. * Facebook * Twitter * Facebook Messenger * * Email * Terms of Use * Privacy Policy * Your California Privacy Rights * Children's Online Privacy Policy * Interest-Based Ads * About Nielsen Measurement * Do Not Sell My Info * Contact Us * Disney Ad Sales Site * Work for ESPN Copyright: (c) ESPN Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved.