Ms. Peng Shuai, a 35-year old former Wimbledon and French Open doubles champion, ex-world 
number one doubles player, made the claim against former vice premier Zhang Gaoli in a blog post.


Since Zhang Gaoli was one of the 7-member Standing Committee of Politbureau, Peng's allegation
has reached the highest oligarchy of the Chinese Communist Party. Peng Shuai made the claim
about former vice premier Zhang Gaoli in a post on the Twitter-like blog site Weibo on Tuesday,
October 2.


China's online censors quickly removed Peng's blog which allegged that Zhang Gaoli initiated
contact with Peng Shuai as early as 2009. The powerful politician sexually assaulted her, she claimed. 


Peng alleged that Zhang, who is now in his seventies, had 'forced' her into sex and they 
had an on-off relationship that lasted several years.


Although the post was deleted quickly, Chinese users were quick to capture the orignial post
through screenshots within the short time the post was online. A complete post was recomposed
through the screenshots. Since the post was taken down, it is impossible to independetnly
verify the authenticity of the screenshots containing the allegation, or substantiate the claims
made in them.


From published Weibo data, it could be seen that Peng did post something on Tuesday on her
verified account and the post was viewed more than 100,000 times. The contents are unknown because 
of the deleted status. 


Searches on China's tightly controlled and censored Internet, including on Weibo and leading 
search engines, also show no results when Peng and Zhang's names are entered together.


Peng's Weibo account was still up on Thursday, but does not show up in search results on the platform.


In the screenshots of Peng's detailed and emotional post accusing Zhang of pressuring her 
into sex, she wrote: 'I was very scared. I initially refused and kept crying.'


Peng reportedly claimed they went on to have a relationship that continued until Zhang stopped 
recently contacting her.


As Zhang insisted on Peng not carrying a recording device each time they met, she had no evidence of
the claimed relationship. But Peng said that Zhang's wife knew of it. Zhang wife made sharp and nasty
comments when being alone with Peng, the experience left her with self-loathing. 

Peng felt hurt that Zhang Gaoli contacted her whenever he wanted to see her. He would simply disappear 
after leaving her a short message 'Tied up now, contact later.' she wrote in the post. 


'Even if it is no more than throwing an egg against a rock, I am courting disaster like a moth 
attracted to a flame - will speak the facts about what happened,' Peng wrote according the screenshot post.


China saw a fledgling #MeToo movement emerge in 2018, with allegations involving powerful public 
figures.


But such claims against top political leaders have not been made publicly until now.