Irvine woman charged with spying for China pleads not guilty

Wanying “Heather” Zhang, a 34-year-old real estate agent from Irvine, pleaded not guilty in a Los Angeles federal court to charges of conspiracy and acting as an unregistered foreign agent for China.

Federal prosecutors allege that Zhang traveled to the Seattle area under the direction of the Chinese government to conduct surveillance on the family of Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te. According to court documents, Zhang and an associate monitored the home of the president’s son, Lai Ting-yu, sending photos, videos, and license plate information to Chinese officials.

Zhang was arrested by the FBI at Los Angeles International Airport in early October while attempting to board a flight to China. If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison. The trial is tentatively scheduled for November 30 in Santa Ana.

A spokesperson for Taiwan’s presidential office condemned the alleged actions as a “classic case of transnational repression” that disregards human rights and national sovereignty.