Peng Shuai: China says the case of a tennis star has been maliciously exaggerated

China says the controversy over tennis star Peng Shuai has been "evilly inflated" in the most straightforward answer to the question to date. Penn has been missing from the public eye for nearly three weeks after alleging the alleged sexual assault of China's former vice premier, which has sparked global concern.

He has reappeared, but questions about his well-being remain. China's Foreign Ministry said Tuesday it was "not a diplomatic issue." "I think you all saw that he recently attended several public events and did a video interview [with the President of the International Olympic Committee]," spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters.

"I think some people need to stop intentionally and maliciously to post [the topic], let alone politicizing the topic," he said. Peng, 35, is one of the best tennis players in China. In a 1,600-word post on Chinese social media platform Weibo earlier this month, he said former Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli "forced" him to have sex with him.

"Even if you hit a rock with just a pebble, or if a moth strikes a fire, and as a form of self-destruction, I will tell you the truth," he wrote.

After sharing the post on Weibo, the tennis player was not heard or seen in public for several weeks. Their safety has become an international concern. Celebrity players, including Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka, joined calls from government and tennis officials to let her know she was safe. The anger has led Chinese state media to post a series of photos and videos that suggest that all is well.

Over the weekend, a video of Peng interviewing the head of the International Olympic Committee, after which a statement from the group said they appeared safe and sound. A state media journalist also released a video from Sunday showing him smiling and standing with officials at a tennis tournament.

But concerns about their safety and well-being remain. The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) said the latest video "does not calm or address concerns about their well-being and ability to communicate without censorship or coercion".

On Sunday, a group of Chinese feminists held a rally in New York in support of Peng. Event organizer Crystal Chen told the that the videos and photos posted appeared to show Peng "physically."