FBI arrests alleged Chinese agent at LAX after she allegedly surveilled son of Taiwanese president
Authorities say Zhang sent photos, videos and license plate information from the Seattle-area surveillance of the Taiwanese president’s son.
- On Sunday, federal law enforcement arrested Irvine, California, realtor Wanying "Heather" Zhang at Los Angeles International Airport before she boarded a flight to Shanghai, China, charging her with acting as an unregistered agent of the People's Republic of China.
- According to an Oct. 3, 2026, criminal complaint filed by FBI Special Agent Kevin Holt, the PRC sought leverage over Taiwan's president during potential conflict by obtaining photographs and location data of close relatives, including the president's son.
- Text messages obtained via an iCloud warrant show Zhang texting a handler, "Saw him. It's that young one," and "I am videorecording," while neighbor security cameras allegedly captured the pair appearing to film Ting-Yu Lai's family in September 2025.
- Ting-Yu, a Philips employee in his 30s, attended college in America and has a U.S.-born child. This arrest follows federal prosecutions of Chinese agents, including Shujun Wang, who infiltrated pro-democracy activists in New York for 17 years.
- Zhang's husband, Edric Ding, told CBS News on Sunday he did not know details about the allegations. The investigation remains ongoing as federal authorities continue targeting suspected foreign intelligence operations within the United States.
58 Articles
58 Articles
THE FBI ARRESTED a woman who spied on the son of Taiwan's president on China's orders, in what Taipei condemned as an act of transnational repression.
The American authorities detained a woman at Los Angeles airport on suspicion of working for China
The American authorities detained a woman at Los Angeles airport on suspicion of working for China.According to the deputy prosecutor for the Central District of California, a 34-year-old Chinese citizen visited Seattle in 2025, where, allegedly...
U.S. accuses California woman of spying for China, surveilling Taiwan leader's son
The Justice Department said Zhang travelled to Seattle in 2025 at the direction of Chinese officials and subsequently sent them photos, video and license plate information of the Taiwanese leader's son and his family
FBI Arrests California Realtor for Allegedly Spying on Taiwan President’s Son
Get latest articles and stories on World at LatestLY. The FBI arrested a California real estate agent at Los Angeles International Airport for allegedly acting as an unregistered foreign agent. She is accused of surveilling the United States-based son of Taiwan's president on behalf of the Chinese government. World News | FBI Arrests California Realtor for Allegedly Spying on Taiwan President’s Son.
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