The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrested a California woman accused of spying on the son of Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te on behalf of Chinese officials.
Wanying Zhang, also known as Heather, 34, was arrested on Sunday, October 4, at Los Angeles International Airport while preparing to board a flight to China. U.S. authorities charged her with acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government.
According to the FBI and U.S. Justice Department, Zhang travelled to Seattle in 2025 at the direction of Chinese officials and allegedly surveilled the Taiwanese president’s son and his family. Investigators said she collected photographs, videos and vehicle licence plate information and sent them to Chinese officials.
The FBI did not initially identify the alleged target by name, but U.S. reports later identified him as Lai Ting-yu, a son of President Lai and a U.S. resident. Authorities also allege that Zhang worked with an accomplice during the surveillance operation and used measures intended to avoid detection.
Taiwan’s Presidential Office confirmed that relatives of President Lai were targeted and condemned the alleged operation, describing it as an example of what it called “transnational repression.” Taiwan also thanked U.S. authorities for protecting its citizens.
Zhang was scheduled to appear before a federal court in Los Angeles on Monday. It was not immediately clear whether she had secured legal representation. Chinese authorities have rejected what they described as the sensationalisation of allegations involving so-called Chinese spies.
