Wanying “Heather” Zhang appeared in federal court after prosecutors accused her of surveilling relatives of Taiwan’s president at China’s direction.
LOS ANGELES, CA — A Southern California real estate agent accused of secretly working for the Chinese government appeared in federal court Monday after the FBI arrested her at Los Angeles International Airport as she prepared to leave for China.
Wanying “Heather” Zhang, 34, of Irvine, faces a federal complaint charging her with acting in the United States as an unregistered agent of the government of the People’s Republic of China. Federal prosecutors allege Zhang carried out surveillance of relatives of a high-ranking Taiwanese government official in the United States at the direction of Chinese officials. The FBI has identified the alleged target as a son of Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te. Zhang has not been indicted, and the allegations against her have not been proven in court.
Zhang appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Steve Kim in downtown Los Angeles for an initial hearing Monday. She spoke to confirm her identity and that she understood the charge against her. No plea was entered. Kim ordered Zhang to remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals pending a detention hearing scheduled for Wednesday afternoon. The judge also said she was not financially eligible for a court-appointed public defender and would need to retain private counsel.
The Justice Department alleges Zhang acted as an agent of the Chinese government from June through September 2025 without notifying the U.S. attorney general as required by federal law. According to the criminal complaint, Zhang traveled from Southern California to China in June 2025, met with Chinese government officials and was given a surveillance assignment involving relatives of the Taiwanese official living in the United States.
Prosecutors allege Zhang and another person flew from John Wayne Airport in Orange County to Las Vegas on Aug. 29, 2025, then traveled to the Seattle area on Sept. 1. Investigators say the pair rented a vehicle and went to the residence of the people they had been directed to monitor. The complaint alleges Zhang communicated with a Chinese government official during the trip and reported seeing the person investigators believe was the intended surveillance target.
According to federal authorities, Zhang also sent the Chinese official license plate numbers from two vehicles parked outside the residence. Investigators allege she took video while at the location and communicated with the official about what she was seeing. Federal officials said the information gathered included images, video and details about vehicles associated with the family. The complaint describes the evidence as part of an FBI counterintelligence investigation and includes information investigators say was obtained from electronic accounts and other records.
The criminal complaint does not publicly name the person whose residence was allegedly watched. The FBI has said the surveillance involved the son of Taiwan’s president, and news organizations have identified the son as Lai Ting-yu, who lives and works in the Seattle area. Prosecutors say the surveillance could have provided Chinese authorities with information about the location, home and vehicles of close relatives of a senior Taiwanese leader.
Zhang is a naturalized U.S. citizen and has worked as a real estate agent in Southern California. California licensing records show she has been licensed in real estate since 2016. Federal investigators also said Zhang attended the University of International Relations in Beijing and remained in contact with people the government alleges were Chinese officials. Those connections and the meaning of communications described in the complaint are allegations that prosecutors would have to establish as the case proceeds.
Taiwan’s presidential office condemned the alleged surveillance, describing it as an example of transnational repression and thanking U.S. authorities for acting to protect Taiwanese citizens. China’s Foreign Ministry said it was not familiar with the specific case and rejected what it characterized as efforts to sensationalize allegations involving Chinese spies. China claims Taiwan as part of its territory, while Taiwan operates under its own democratically elected government. The political status of the island remains a major source of tension between Beijing and Washington.
The charge against Zhang concerns acting as an agent of a foreign government without prior notification to the attorney general. If convicted, she could face a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison. A criminal complaint is an allegation and does not establish guilt. Prosecutors would still have to prove the charge beyond a reasonable doubt if the case proceeds to trial.
Zhang remained in federal custody following Monday’s hearing. Her next scheduled court proceeding is Wednesday, when the court is expected to consider whether she should remain detained while the case moves forward. As of her initial appearance, she had not been formally indicted and had not entered a plea.
Author note: Last updated October 6, 2026.