The State Department said it’s standing with the Women’s Tennis Association in taking on the regime in Beijing over the treatment of Peng Shuai, the top Chinese tennis player who disappeared for weeks after she publicly denounced a retired senior Chinese official for allegedly sexually assaulting her.
The WTA on Dec. 1 moved to halt all matches in mainland China and Hong Kong indefinitely over concerns for Peng, making it the first sports body to challenge China’s communist regime over human rights. With China being the WTA’s biggest market, the suspension could potentially cost the organization hundreds of millions in broadcasting and sponsorship.
