US authorities have arrested a California woman on suspicion of spying on the son of Taiwan's president at the behest of Chinese officials, the FBI said. Wanying Zhang, also known as Heather, was detained on Sunday at Los Angeles International Airport before a planned departure to China. The 34-year-old, from Irvine, California, has been charged with acting as an unregistered foreign agent.
According to the Justice Department, Zhang travelled to Seattle in 2025 at the direction of Chinese officials. She is alleged to have sent them photos, video and licence plate information relating to the son of Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te and his family. The FBI did not name the alleged target directly, but later shared a New York Post report identifying him as Lai Ting-yu, a US resident.
Bill Essayli, the first assistant US attorney for the Central District of California, called Zhang a "Chinese foreign agent" and alleged that she used tradecraft to avoid detection. He said she never notified the US Attorney General that she was acting for a foreign government, which is a federal offence. Zhang is due to appear in a Los Angeles federal court on Monday. It was not immediately clear whether she has a defence lawyer.
Taiwan's presidential office described the alleged actions as a "typical case of transnational repression" and thanked the US government for protecting Taiwanese citizens. Spokesperson Karen Kuo expressed "the strongest condemnation of such barbaric conduct that disregards human rights and the sovereignty of nations." China's foreign ministry did not respond to a request for comment, and the Chinese embassy in Washington and Taiwan's representative office in the United States also did not immediately respond.
The case comes against a tense backdrop in cross-strait relations. Lai and his Democratic Progressive Party hold that Taiwan is already a separate country from China, and Lai says only Taiwan's people can decide their future. Beijing, which views the self-governing island as Chinese territory, is often angered by that position. In January, Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to achieve "reunification" with Taiwan, calling the goal "unstoppable".
The United States has no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, but it is bound by law to help the island defend itself and is its most important international backer and weapons supplier. Earlier this week, Washington delivered two F-16V Block 70 fighter jets to Taiwan as the island works to strengthen its defences against a feared attack from China.
The case is a notable example of allegations that foreign governments monitor or pressure individuals abroad, a practice Taiwan's government labels transnational repression. The charges are allegations, and Zhang has yet to answer them in court.