Woman arrested in Los Angeles over alleged spying on Taiwan president’s family for China

The FBI arrested Wanying Zhang at Los Angeles International Airport as she was preparing to fly to China. She is accused of working for the Chinese government without registering as a foreign agent as required by US law.

According to the FBI, Zhang, also known as Heather, surveilled Taiwan’s president’s son and his family while in the United States. Prosecutors say she photographed and recorded her targets and sent Chinese officials license-plate information.

Zhang, 34, was due to appear in federal court in Los Angeles on Monday. Her nationality and whether she had a lawyer were not immediately clear.

Taiwan confirms relatives were targeted

Taiwan’s presidential office confirmed that relatives of President Lai Ching-te were targeted but did not specify whether his son was involved. Spokesperson Karen Kuo called the case “a classic case of transnational repression.”

The office condemned acts it said were intended to suppress, threaten or harm people supporting freedom and democracy, as well as their families. China’s embassy in the United States did not respond to a request for comment, while Beijing’s foreign ministry was closed for holidays.

Long-running Taiwan-China tensions

China claims Taiwan as part of its territory. The sides split after a civil war in 1949.

Lai, elected president in 2024, has said Taiwan and China do not belong to each other and that the People’s Republic of China has no right to represent Taiwan. China describes Lai as a separatist and a “destroyer of peace.”

During his presidency, Lai has increased attention to Taiwan’s defenses, pledging to raise defense spending from 3% to 5% of GDP and backing a special budget for construction of a T-Dome air-defense system.