Real estate agent charged in alleged Chinese espionage plot in the US

Federal agents arrested Wanying Heather Zhang at Los Angeles International Airport on Sunday for allegedly spying on behalf of China. ABC7 Los Angeles, edhat, News.com.au, and The Cairns Post reported that Zhang and her husband subsequently appeared in court to face the allegations. The New York Post reported that the arrest was made by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. [1][2][3][4][5]

The United States Department of Justice charged Zhang, a Chinese-American real estate agent operating in California, alongside other individuals in October 2026. The criminal charges state that she covertly surveilled and photographed Lai Ting-yu, the son of Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, and his family in a Seattle suburb in September 2025. An agent from the Federal Bureau of Investigation stated in the complaint that Zhang acted under the direction of officials from the Chinese government. [1][2][6]

Federal investigators stated that information regarding the residences, vehicles, and photos of the close relatives of the Taiwanese president could give Beijing leverage over Taiwan. Experts told the New York Post that China has recruited at least 10 people in the United States over the past year as part of a growing espionage effort. [1][6]