The 34-year-old was captured on Sunday at the airport in Los Angeles by officials from the U.S. federal police FBI, from where she intended to travel to China, as explained by prosecutor Bill Essayli on the online service X. #Spionage #Taiwan #China (translated)
"We just arrested a Chinese agent attempting to leave for China from LAX airport. Wanying Zhang, also known as 'Heather,' 34, from Irvine, was arrested today by the FBI Los Angeles based on a federal complaint accusing her of acting as an unregistered agent of the People's Republic of China," reports Bill Essayli, first assistant U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, on X. #spionaj #SUA #China (translated)
We just arrested a Chinese foreign agent at LAX attempting to depart for China.Wanying Zhang, aka “Heather,” 34, of Irvine, was arrested today by @FBILosAngeles on a federal complaint charging her with acting as an unregistered agent of the People’s Republic of China.According to the affidavit, Zhang traveled to Seattle in 2025 and, at the direction of PRC officials, surveilled a close relative of a Taiwanese government official, sending photos, videos, and license plate information to those officials.She coordinated the trip with an associate and used tradecraft to avoid detection. She never notified the Attorney General she was acting for a foreign government, a federal offense.She will appear in federal court in Los Angeles tomorrow for her initial appearance. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. #FBI #Espionaje #Taiwán
"while she was trying to leave for China" She was transmitting "photos, videos, and license plate information" to Chinese officials, according to Bill Essayli. #Espionnage #Taiwan #FBI (translated)
We just arrested a Chinese foreign agent at LAX attempting to depart for China.Wanying Zhang, aka “Heather,” 34, of Irvine, was arrested today by @FBILosAngeles on a federal complaint charging her with acting as an unregistered agent of the People’s Republic of China. According to the affidavit, Zhang traveled to Seattle in 2025 and, at the direction of PRC officials, surveilled a close relative of a Taiwanese government official, sending photos, videos, and license plate information to those officials.She coordinated the trip with an associate and used tradecraft to avoid detection. She never notified the Attorney General she was acting for a foreign government, a federal offense.She will appear in federal court in Los Angeles tomorrow for her initial appearance. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. #Κίνα #Ταϊβάν #FBI
"sent photographs, videos, and information about the license plates of these officials." This "sent photographs, videos, and information about the license plates of these officials" was communicated on X by Bill Essayli, the chief assistant U.S. attorney for the Central District of California. #spionaj #FBI #China (translated)
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