FBI arrests woman at LAX accused of spying on Taiwan president’s family for China

LOS ANGELES, CA — The FBI has arrested a woman at Los Angeles International Airport who is accused of secretly working for China and surveilling relatives of Taiwan’s president, Lai Ching-te, in the United States.

Wanying Zhang, 34, also known as “Heather,” was taken into custody as she was about to board a flight to China. Federal prosecutors charged her with acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government.

According to the FBI, she took photos and videos of her targets and sent license plate information to Chinese officials. Taiwan’s Presidential Office confirmed that members of Lai’s family were targeted and called it “a classic case of transnational repression.”

The Chinese Embassy did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The charges are allegations, and Zhang is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.