U.S. authorities accuse California woman of spying for China

LOS ANGELES (NBC, KYMA) - U.S. authorities arrested a California woman Sunday and accused her of spying on a son of Taiwan's president at the behest of Chinese officials.

The FBI arrested Wanying Zhang, also known as Heather, at Los Angeles International Airport before her planned departure to China, the agency said in a statement.

Footage released by Bill Essayli, the First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, on his X page showed FBI agents escorting Zhang in the airport terminal building.

Authorities charged Zhang, a resident of Irvine, California, with acting as an unregistered foreign agent.

The 34-year old surveilled a son of Taiwanese president Lai Ching-te, the FBI said.

The agency did not directly name Zhang's alleged target, but later shared a New York Post report identifying him as Lai Ting-yu, a U.S. resident.

In addition, the Justice Department said Zhang traveled to Seattle in 2025 at the direction of Chinese officials and subsequently sent them photos, video and license plate information of the Taiwanese leader's son and his family.

Zhang used tradecraft to avoid detection and never notified Washington that she was acting for a foreign government, bill essayli, the first assistant us attorney for the central district of california, said in a statement.

Zhang was scheduled to appear in a Los Angeles federal court Monday.