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LOS ANGELES () — A 34-year-old Orange County real estate agent accused of spying for China appeared in federal court in Los Angeles on Monday after her arrest at LAX.
Wanying Zhang, also known as “Heather,” is accused of working for China as an unregistered agent and spying on the son of Taiwan’s president. Federal agents arrested Zhang at LAX on Sunday as prosecutors alleged she was preparing to board a flight to Shanghai.
“China is one of our adversaries. They are constantly conducting surveillance, they’re stealing technology, IP information,” First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said.
According to investigators, Zhang traveled to Seattle in September 2025 and rented a black SUV to conduct surveillance on Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen’s son. Authorities allege she photographed family, vehicles and license plates and then sent the images to a contact in China.
Investigators said Zhang also sent a text message that read: “Saw him. Young male. It’s that young one.”
Zhang’s arrest, Essayli says, is part of a Department of Justice crackdown on Chinese meddling in the U.S.
In May, former Arcadia Mayor Eileen Wang pleaded guilty to a federal charge of operating as an unregistered foreign agent. Prosecutors alleged Wang operated a website that spread propaganda on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party.
“They’re trying to groom individuals here in the U.S. to act on their interest,” Essayli said.
“I think President Trump has been very clear, and he’s been very strong with China,” Essayli added. “He’s no fool. He understands what China is up to and what they’re trying to do.”
The charges against Zhang come less than two weeks after President Donald Trump hosted a state visit for Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Zhang is due back in federal court later this week.
Eyewitness News reached out to a phone number associated with Zhang and her family but the call went to voicemail.
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