FBI arrests California woman accused of spying on Taiwan leader's family for China
Zhang allegedly sent photos, videos and license plate data to Chinese officials after surveillance of the Taiwanese president’s son and family, prosecutors said.
- On Sunday, FBI agents arrested Wanying Zhang, also known as Heather, at Los Angeles International Airport while departing for China, charging the naturalized United States citizen with acting as an unregistered agent for the Chinese government.
- Zhang allegedly surveilled the family of Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, specifically his son Ting-Yu Lai, in Seattle on September 1, 2025, after maintaining contact with Chinese officials since graduating from the University of International Relations around 2014.
- Federal criminal complaints describe Zhang photographing targets and transmitting license plate data to Chinese officials, which the Justice Department claims constitutes an aggressive effort to locate and harass pro-democracy activists.
- Presidential Office spokesperson Karen Kuo condemned the alleged "barbaric acts" on behalf of Taiwan, while Zhang appeared in Los Angeles federal court on Monday afternoon to face the charges.
- This case follows a series of Justice Department prosecutions, including Arcadia Mayor Eileen Wang's recent guilty plea, and demonstrates Beijing's ongoing efforts to cultivate influence and suppress opposition within the United States.
14 Articles
14 Articles
US arrests California agent over spying on Taiwan President Lai's family
US authorities say a California realtor surveilled relatives of Taiwan President Lai Ching-te for Chinese officials. The arrest has sharpened US and Taiwan concerns over alleged transnational repression and spying.
FBI arrested Wanying Zhang, resident of Irvine, at Los Angeles International Airport; Zhang is accused of spying in Seattle for China
POLITICS: Communist China is bringing its police state to California
The Chinese Communist Party doesn’t believe its police state should end at China’s borders. Beijing believes its power to surveil, intimidate and control its enemies follows them wherever they go. Including right here to California. The latest example, it appears, was living in Irvine. Wanying “Heather” Zhang, a 34-year-old realtor, was arrested by the FBI Saturday at Los Angeles International Airport as she prepared to leave for China. Federal …
FBI arrests California woman accused of spying on Taiwan leader's family for China
The FBI arrested a California real estate agent at the Los Angeles airport as she was leaving the country and accused her of spying for China on the president of Taiwan's family, federal officials said.
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