FBI Arrests California Realtor Accused of Spying on Taiwanese President’s Son for China

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The FBI has arrested a Southern California real estate agent accused of conducting surveillance on the son of Taiwan’s president on behalf of the Chinese government, according to a federal criminal complaint.

Wanying “Heather” Zhang, 34, of Irvine, California, was taken into custody Sunday at Los Angeles International Airport as she prepared to board a flight to Shanghai. Federal prosecutors charged her with acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government.

According to court documents, Zhang allegedly carried out a surveillance operation targeting Ting-Yu Lai, the son of Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, while he was living in the Seattle area with his family.

Investigators allege Zhang and an associate flew from Las Vegas to Seattle in September 2025, rented a vehicle, and traveled to the suburban neighborhood where Lai and his family lived. The complaint says security camera footage captured the pair near the residence, where they allegedly photographed and filmed Lai, his wife and their child.

The FBI alleges Zhang relayed information to Chinese government contacts through the messaging application WeChat. According to the complaint, she sent messages stating that she had located her target and was recording video, while also providing vehicle license plate numbers.

Federal authorities believe the operation was intended to gather information that could provide leverage against senior Taiwanese officials during a future crisis involving Taiwan and China. The complaint notes that photographs, home addresses, vehicle information and details about family members of high-ranking officials could be of intelligence value to Beijing.

The case comes amid continuing tensions between China and Taiwan. Beijing claims the self-governing island as part of its territory, while Taiwan maintains its own government, military and democratic political system. The island also plays a critical role in the global semiconductor industry.

Investigators say Zhang was introduced to Chinese government contacts in 2025 through a former classmate from Beijing’s University of International Relations, an institution U.S. authorities say has ties to China’s intelligence services. The complaint alleges Zhang met with a Chinese official during a trip to China and later agreed to conduct the surveillance mission.

Messages cited in the complaint allegedly show Zhang discussing travel plans to Seattle and receiving encouragement from a Chinese government contact.

Zhang is a licensed California real estate agent whose public professional profile lists more than 100 sales and property listings in the Los Angeles area. Efforts to reach her for comment were unsuccessful. It was not immediately clear whether she had retained legal counsel.

The arrest is the latest in a series of U.S. cases involving alleged Chinese intelligence activities on American soil. Federal authorities have previously charged individuals accused of spying on Chinese dissidents, operating unauthorized Chinese government outposts and participating in efforts to pressure critics of the Chinese government living abroad.

If convicted, Zhang could face significant federal penalties under laws governing foreign agents operating within the United States. Prosecutors have not announced a date for her initial court appearance.