Wanying Zhang, 34, also known as Heather Zhang, of Irvine, California, was arrested Sunday on a one count complaint charging her with acting in the United States as an unregistered agent of the government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), including by conducting surveillance on family members of a high-ranking Taiwanese government official.
“The central allegation here – that Zhang, at the behest of the People’s Republic of China, covertly surveilled relatives of a high-ranking foreign government official in the United States – is deeply troubling,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “The National Security Division and U.S. Attorney’s Offices, along with the FBI and other law enforcement partners, will remain vigilant against threats like this on our soil.”
“Protecting our national security means confronting foreign governments that engage in covert operations in our nation,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli for the Central District of California. “Ms. Zhang is charged with acting at the direction of Chinese government officials to spy on the family of a senior Taiwanese official here in the United States. She violated our laws and will be held accountable in our courts. We will aggressively investigate and prosecute illegal foreign operations on American soil.”
“The complaint in this case lays bare a brazen plot directed by the Chinese government to conduct a covert surveillance mission on U.S. soil targeting close relatives of a Taiwanese government official,” said Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence and Espionage Division. “Wanying Zhang’s arrest for allegedly acting as an unregistered agent of the Chinese government makes clear how far China’s authoritarian regime will go to advance its goals. However, this case also demonstrates the FBI’s unwavering commitment to defending the sovereignty of our democratic allies and combating all attempts by the Chinese government – and any foreign adversary – to conduct transnational repression within our borders.”
Zhang was arrested prior to her planned departure from Los Angeles International Airport, where she planned to board a flight to China. She is expected to make her initial appearance and be arraigned this afternoon in U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles.
According to the complaint, from June 2025 to September 2025, Zhang acted as an agent of the PRC without prior notification to the Attorney General of the United States, as required by federal law.
At the direction and control of PRC officials, Zhang coordinated with other individuals to promote the interests of China by, among other things, conducting surveillance on family members of a high-ranking Taiwanese government official at their residence in the United States.
In June 2025, Zhang traveled from Southern California to China, where she met with PRC officials and was tasked with conducting surveillance in the United States.
On Aug. 29, 2025, Zhang and another individual flew from John Wayne Airport in Orange County to Las Vegas. On Sept. 1, 2025, they flew from Las Vegas to the Pacific Northwest, where the victims reside. On that date, Zhang messaged a PRC official that she was “Boarding now” and sent a photograph of her boarding pass.
Upon their arrival, Zhang and the other individual traveled to the victims’ residence and conducted surveillance. Zhang sent the same PRC official the following message: “Saw him, young male, it’s the young one.” When this official asked her to join an audio call, she replied, “I am videorecording.”
Zhang also sent the same official the license plate numbers for the two vehicles parked in front of the victims’ home.
If convicted, Zhang would face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
The FBI Los Angeles Field Office is investigating the case.
Senior Counsel Scott M. Lara of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda B. Elbogen and Colin S. Scott for the Central District of California are prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.