FBI arrests California woman accused of spying on Taiwan leader’s family for China
Federal authorities have arrested a Southern California real estate agent at Los Angeles International Airport, alleging she worked at the direction of the Chinese government to surveil relatives of Taiwan’s president in the United States.
According to the Justice Department and an FBI criminal complaint, 34-year-old Wanying “Heather” Zhang of Irvine is accused of acting as an unregistered agent for the People’s Republic of China. Officials say she filmed and photographed the targets, captured license plates, and sent the materials to Chinese contacts. Zhang, a naturalized U.S. citizen, was taken into custody as she prepared to board a flight to China and was scheduled to make an initial appearance in federal court in Los Angeles.
Alleged surveillance in Seattle
An affidavit states that on September 1, 2025, Zhang and another individual traveled to the Seattle area and conducted surveillance outside the home of the intended target. A nearby security camera allegedly recorded the pair filming the residence and family members from a vehicle. Investigators say Zhang then transmitted images, video clips, and vehicle registration details to a Chinese official.
The criminal complaint does not publicly name the target, but law enforcement, via official communications, indicated it was the son of Taiwan’s president. The elder son, Ting-Yu Lai, is an engineer who lives and works in the Seattle region.
Connections alleged in the complaint
Prosecutors say Zhang studied at the University of International Relations in Beijing, an institution described in the affidavit as closely tied to China’s intelligence apparatus. She allegedly maintained relationships with former classmates who became government officials, staying in contact with at least two such officials in 2025. Those contacts, according to the affidavit, coordinated or received the surveillance materials Zhang gathered.
Response from Taiwan and China
Taiwan’s Presidential Office said relatives of President Lai Ching-te were the targets and called the case a “classic example of transnational repression.” A spokesperson condemned what was described as efforts to intimidate or harm individuals who support freedom and democracy, asserting such actions violate human rights and national sovereignty.
There was no immediate public comment from Chinese authorities.
Part of a broader U.S. push
Officials characterized the arrest as part of a larger effort to counter covert activities on U.S. soil. In recent years, the Justice Department has brought multiple cases alleging operations to intimidate dissidents, surveil pro-democracy activists, and cultivate influence within American political circles without required disclosures.
Context on cross-strait tensions
Taiwan and China have been governed separately since 1949, but Beijing claims the island as part of its territory. President Lai, elected in 2024, has maintained that Taiwan and the People’s Republic of China do not belong to each other and that Beijing has no right to represent the island. Chinese officials have labeled him a separatist. Under Lai, Taiwan has increased defense spending, with proposals to raise expenditures from about 3% to 5% of GDP and authorize a special budget for an air defense initiative known as T-Dome.
Related case in California
In a separate matter earlier this year, the mayor of Arcadia, California, agreed to plead guilty to acting as an illegal agent of a foreign government after being accused of promoting messaging favorable to Beijing without notifying the U.S. government as required by law. That case underscored what officials describe as expanding foreign influence operations targeting American communities.
As for Zhang, the charges allege she operated under the direction of foreign officials without registering, a violation that carries potential prison time if convicted. The case now moves to the courts, where prosecutors will present evidence detailed in the affidavit and the defense will have an opportunity to respond.
