I'm sure CCP knew what really happened. But the problem is that will people believe that letter is really hers or if she wrote it under free will? If people don't believe it, then they will think this is just another forced suppression, which is counter productive. I'm sorry to say, but I doubt even Chinese people believe that letter was written by her or written by her under free will, not to mention foreign audiences. This isn't the way to deal with scandal. By trying to silence the people, nothing you say will be accepted as truth even if it is the truth.

The US and the west in general are really good at mixing truths with false, and making people believe in them. They did it without silencing people, but by letting people getting bombarded by many sides of the story, dividing the audiences into many sides, pro cons neutral whatever factions etc.

CCP should take a page from the west in PR. Many times when CCP deal with PR crisis like this, CCP pretend like they never happen, or worse pretend like the world bought its PR sides, which often not true. Self delusion is dangerous. I'm not sure if CCP did this because CCP only care about domestic public opinion or CCP just incapable of doing a good PR. You need to face the PR crisis head on and fast before it turn into shitstorm like this one.

Like I said before, I think it is better to let the WTA and others who is "concerned" about Peng, to talk to her directly. CCP also should announce to the public that it is investigating this matter as a matter of party discipline not state affairs, since it is an affairs not state matter. Stop protecting the dude, he is finished when he couldn't keep his dick in pant and couldn't keep his chick in check. He should be the fall guy. Doing this will send signal to other party cadres too.

Personally, I suspect this is a ploy by Xi's rival faction. But CCP could turn this into CCP's advantage if it act fast and transparent.