Feds say a California woman reclined her seat to avoid being seen while watching the Taiwanese president’s relative, and she was just arrested at LAX

Federal authorities took Wanying Zhang, also known as “Heather,” into custody at LAX as she attempted to board a flight to Shanghai. The 34-year-old Irvine resident stands accused of acting as an unregistered agent for China. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli confirmed the arrest on X, stating, “We just arrested a Chinese foreign agent at LAX attempting to depart for China.”

Zhang allegedly traveled to the Seattle area in 2025 to monitor the family of a Taiwanese official, according to a criminal complaint obtained by Fox News. Law enforcement sources told CBS News that the target was Ting-Yu Lai, who is the son of Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te. However, the complaint itself does not name him.

Federal investigators believe that Zhang, a naturalized U.S. citizen, received her instructions during a June 2025 meeting with a Chinese government contact in Changsha. During that meeting, she allegedly told the contact, “I can take care of this thing.” Zhang and an associate flew from Las Vegas to Seattle in September 2025, where they rented a black Nissan Rogue.

The pair were reportedly caught on a neighbor’s security camera

A neighbor’s security camera reportedly captured the duo waiting near the target’s home. When the family arrived, the pair allegedly scrambled to capture photos and videos. FBI Special Agent Kevin Holt noted in the affidavit that “While individual 1 took pictures, Zhang reclined her seat as if to avoid being seen.” Zhang reportedly communicated her progress to a government contact in real time.

She allegedly sent a message stating, “Saw him. Young male. It’s that young one,” followed by, “I am videorecording,” along with two license plate numbers. Days later, Zhang allegedly instructed her associate to transfer the images using AirDrop rather than standard messaging apps, as Holt believes she wanted to avoid detection.

She told him, “Seattle pictures, don’t send via WeChat or text. Must be sent over the air. I have to send it back. He wants me to send it back today.” The associate later claimed to have deleted the photos and cleared his deleted folder, which Holt described as an apparent attempt to destroy evidence. Holt warned that home addresses and vehicle details matter, as they could give Beijing leverage over Taiwan’s president during a potential conflict.

Holt wrote, “Engaging in surveillance of a close relative of a high-ranking member of Taiwan’s government is not normal diplomatic behavior, especially inside of the United States.” FBI Director Kash Patel issued his own warning after the arrest, stating, “Foreign adversaries take note: America is no longer a safe place to run your espionage operations.”

Patel added that trying to catch a flight back to Shanghai after allegedly surveilling a foreign leader’s family on U.S. soil was “not happening.” Essayli warned that the threat likely extends beyond California. He said, “China’s very good at using people who are already here,” adding that he believes it is happening nationwide. She is scheduled to make her initial appearance in federal court in Los Angeles on Monday. Zhang has not been convicted, and her side of the allegations could not be independently verified.