California woman accused of spying for China and monitoring President Lai’s son
US prosecutors say Wanying Zhang worked as an unregistered foreign agent and collected photos, videos and license plate information; the case is pending before the courts.
The FBI said Wanying Zhang, a 34-year-old woman living in Irvine, California, allegedly monitored President Lai Ching-te’s son and family at the direction of Chinese officials. Zhang was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport while preparing to board a flight to China.
The US Justice Department accused Zhang of working for the Chinese government without registering as a foreign agent. According to US authorities, she traveled to Seattle in 2025 and, acting on instructions from Chinese officials, collected photographs, videos and license plate information relating to Lai’s son and family.
The FBI said Zhang allegedly used various methods to avoid detection and failed to notify the US government that she was conducting activities on behalf of a foreign government.
US authorities did not initially identify the alleged surveillance target by name in the information they released. Subsequent reports identified the target as Lai Ting-you, Lai’s son, who currently lives in the United States.
The Presidential Office strongly condemned the case. Presidential Office spokesperson Michelle Kuo said the alleged conduct was a “typical case of transnational repression” and thanked the US government for protecting the people of Taiwan. Taiwan said surveillance targeting Taiwanese people and their families raises not only personal security concerns but also issues involving human rights and national sovereignty.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it was “not aware” of the case and accused those publicizing alleged “Chinese espionage” cases of smearing and vilifying China.
Lai and his Democratic Progressive Party have long maintained that Taiwan has a political identity distinct from China. Beijing, meanwhile, claims Taiwan is part of Chinese territory. The opposing positions have kept cross-strait relations highly tense.
The United States does not have formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, but it has long been Taiwan’s most important international supporter and a major arms supplier. The case further highlights growing tensions among Taiwan, China and the US over security, intelligence activities and transnational influence.
Zhang is expected to appear in federal court in Los Angeles. Public information has not indicated whether she has retained a defense attorney. As the case remains in the judicial process, the allegations have yet to be heard by the court, and Zhang is presumed innocent under the law.