Wanying Zhang Arrested Over 2025 Surveillance of Taiwan President's Son in U.S.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Oct 12

Wanying Zhang, 34, was arrested at Los Angeles airport this month as she allegedly tried to board a flight to China after being charged as an unregistered agent of the People’s Republic of China.
Prosecutors say the Irvine woman traveled to the Seattle area in 2025 at Chinese officials’ direction, photographing, filming and collecting license plate numbers outside the home of a relative of Taiwan’s president.
Bill Essayli said the target was the U.S.-based son of Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te; the criminal complaint does not name him, though CBS identified him as Ting-Yu Lai.
Messages cited in the complaint allegedly show Zhang reporting back in real time — including “I am video recording” — while authorities say she used tradecraft to avoid detection.
Essayli said the case is part of a broader pattern, calling Chinese espionage in the U.S. “extremely pervasive” and pointing to other recent prosecutions involving chip sales and local political influence.