FBI arrests woman for allegedly spying on Taiwanese president’s son

The FBI has arrested Wanying “Heather” Zhang, a 34-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen and real estate agent, for allegedly operating as an unregistered agent of a foreign state. Zhang was apprehended at Los Angeles International Airport on October 4 while attempting to board a flight to Shanghai.

Federal authorities accuse Zhang of conducting covert surveillance on Lai Ting-yu, the son of Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te. According to FBI affidavits, Zhang traveled to Seattle in September 2025 to film the residences and vehicles of the President’s son and his family, subsequently forwarding the footage and license-plate details to Chinese officials.

Investigations indicate Zhang attended the University of International Relations in Beijing, an institution with close ties to China’s Ministry of State Security. Records suggest Zhang met with Chinese officials in January and June 2025, during which she allegedly received instructions to conduct surveillance. While the target, Lai Ting-yu, is not a political figure, the intelligence operation may have been intended to gain leverage over the Taiwanese presidency.