"They're opening a pandora's box" says Hu Xijin, chief editor of the Chinese state-affiliated media outlet Global Times on Peng Shuai

The response from China to the WTA suspending all events comes in the form of a harshly-worded editorial in the Global Times. The Media outlet is a state-affiliated one presumably closely working with the Government of the country and its chief editor Hu Xijin lashed out against the WTA accusing them of politicizing the sport of tennis.

He wrote:

“WTA is coercing Peng Shuai to support the West’s attack on the Chinese system. They are depriving Peng Shuai’s freedom of expression, demanding that her description of her current situation must meet their expectation. The WTA has acted as a lever of Western public opinion against China’s political system."

It further reads:

“To this end, they repeat the old tricks and once again set the precedent of boycotting sports events for political purposes. This creates new uncertainties for international sports. The WTA has put on an exaggerated show. Their pursuit of “political correctness” is surely top-notch even among Western politicians. To further hype the case, the WTA even disclosed some private information about Peng."

Xijin further wrote:

“It is the WTA which claimed Peng’s assurance that “everything is fine” is not credible, and it has been pushing accusations over and over again that she was acting. The WTA’s actions are seriously coercing Peng. Such coercion has deprived Peng of freedom of expression, forcing her to complain in accordance with the imagination and expectations of Western public opinion, fabricating that she has lost her freedom."

And some more:

“Peng is an athlete who is destined to be connected with the West. The message the WTA sent to her is that as long as she wants to satisfy the West, she will have to endorse the latter’s accusations against China. The WTA is expanding its influence in a speculative way. They are bringing politics into women’s tennis deeply, and are setting a bad example for the entire sporting world."

Finally the editorial piece ended with troublesome statement:

“They are opening a Pandora’s box. They are betrayers of the Olympic spirit.”