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U.S. authorities have arrested California resident Waning Zhang on suspicion of acting as an unregistered foreign agent for China and surveilling the son of Taiwan’s president, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said.
Zhang, 34, who lives in Irvine and is also known as “Heather,” was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport on Sunday, Oct. 4, before she was due to fly to China. She has been charged with acting as an unregistered foreign agent.
Details of the charges
According to the FBI, Zhang traveled to Seattle in 2025 at the direction of Chinese officials to gather information about the son and family of Taiwan’s president. Prosecutors say she sent Chinese officials photos and videos, as well as information about vehicle license plates.
The bureau said Zhang used specialized methods to avoid detection and did not notify U.S. authorities that she was acting on behalf of a foreign government. The FBI has not said whether the alleged surveillance was part of a broader intelligence operation. The investigation is ongoing.
The FBI initially did not identify the target of the surveillance. The New York Post reported that the person was Lai Ting-yu, the U.S.-based son of Taiwan President Lai Ching-te. Zhang is expected to appear in federal court in Los Angeles on Monday.
Taiwan’s response
It was not immediately clear whether Zhang had a lawyer. China’s embassy in Washington and Taiwan’s representative office in the United States did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Taiwan’s Presidential Office described Zhang’s actions as “a typical example of transnational repression” and thanked the U.S. government for protecting Taiwan citizens. Presidential Office spokesperson Karen Kuo condemned the conduct in a statement, saying it disregarded human rights and the sovereignty of states.
Tensions between Taiwan and China
The case is being investigated amid ongoing tensions between Taiwan and China. President Lai and the Democratic Progressive Party he represents support Taiwan’s separate identity from China. Beijing opposes this position and considers Taiwan part of its territory.
The United States has no formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan. However, Washington remains one of the island’s most important international supporters and arms suppliers.
