California woman arrested and accused of spying on Taiwan president’s son for China | China

US authorities arrested a California woman on Sunday, accusing her of spying on the son of Taiwan’s president at the request of Chinese officials, the FBI said.

The FBI arrested Wanying Zhang, also known as Heather, on Sunday at Los Angeles International Airport before her scheduled departure to China, the agency said in a statement. Authorities charged Zhang, 34, of Irvine, California, with acting as an unregistered foreign agent.

Zhang monitored a son of Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, the FBI alleged. The agency “did not directly name Zhang’s alleged target, but later shared a New York Post article” identifying him as Lai Ting-yu, a US resident.

Taiwan’s presidential office described Zhang’s alleged actions as a “typical case of transnational repression” and thanked the U.S. government for protecting Taiwanese citizens.

“Our country expresses the strongest condemnation of such barbaric conduct that disregards human rights and the sovereignty of nations,” spokeswoman Karen Kuo said in a statement.

China’s Foreign Ministry did not respond to a request for comment.

The Justice Department alleged that Zhang traveled to Seattle in 2025 at the direction of Chinese officials and sent them photos, videos and license plate information of the Taiwan president’s son and his family.

Zhang used her expertise to avoid detection and never informed Washington that she was acting on behalf of a foreign government, Bill Essayli, the first assistant U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, said in a statement.

It was not immediately clear whether Zhang had a defense attorney. She “will appear Monday in federal court in Los Angeles,” Essayli said.

Lai and his Democratic Progressive Party defend Taiwan’s distinct identity from China, a position that often angers Beijing, which considers the island Chinese territory. Lai says only the Taiwanese people can decide their future.

Washington does not maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, but the United States is the island’s largest international donor and arms supplier.