U.S. accuses California woman of spying for China, surveilling Taiwan president's son

U.S. authorities have arrested a California woman, Wanying Zhang, on charges of spying for China by surveilling a son of Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te. The FBI stated that Zhang, also known as Heather, was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport before a planned departure to China. She is accused of acting as an unregistered foreign agent, having traveled to Seattle in 2025 to gather photos, video, and license plate information of the Taiwanese leader's son and his family at the direction of Chinese officials. Taiwan's presidential office condemned the actions as 'transnational repression.'