US Arrests Woman Over Alleged Spying On Taiwan President’s Son

United States authorities have arrested a 34-year-old California woman, Wanying Zhang, also known as Heather, for allegedly spying on the son of Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te on behalf of Chinese officials.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said Zhang was arrested on Sunday at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), shortly before she was scheduled to travel to China.

She has been charged with acting as an unregistered foreign agent, according to the agency.

The FBI alleged that Zhang surveilled one of President Lai’s sons, who was later identified by the New York Post as Lai Ting-yu, a US resident.

According to the US Department of Justice, Zhang travelled to Seattle in 2025 at the direction of Chinese officials, where she allegedly gathered and sent them photographs, videos and vehicle licence plate information involving the Taiwanese president’s son and his family.

US authorities also alleged that Zhang took measures to avoid detection during the surveillance and failed to notify the US government that she was acting on behalf of a foreign government.

Bill Essayli, the first assistant US attorney for the Central District of California, said Zhang’s alleged activities demonstrated deliberate efforts to conceal her actions.

Zhang was expected to appear before a federal court in Los Angeles on Monday.

It was not immediately clear whether she had secured legal representation.

Reacting to the arrest, Taiwan’s Presidential Office described Zhang’s alleged activities as a case of “transnational repression” and thanked the US government for protecting Taiwanese citizens.

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

China’s Foreign Ministry had not responded to requests for comment at the time of filing this report.

President Lai and his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) have promoted Taiwan’s separate political identity from China, a position that has frequently drawn criticism from Beijing.

China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has repeatedly opposed moves it sees as supporting the island’s independence.

Lai, however, maintains that only the people of Taiwan have the right to determine the island’s future.

The case comes amid heightened tensions between Washington, Beijing and Taipei.

Although the United States does not maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, Washington maintains close unofficial relations with the island and is its major supplier of military equipment.

The allegations against Zhang are likely to add to concerns in the United States over Chinese intelligence activities and alleged efforts to monitor Taiwanese nationals and political figures abroad.