Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents arrested Wanying Zhang at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), California, on 4/10, just as the 34-year-old woman was about to board a flight to Shanghai, China.
"We apprehended the Chinese agent as this person attempted to fly back to their country," said Bill Essayli, a federal prosecutor in California. According to the FBI, Zhang faces charges of being an "unregistered foreign agent", with investigators identifying her target in the US as Lai Dinh Du, the son of Taiwan's leader Lai Thanh Duc.
Before becoming a suspect in an intelligence-related case, Zhang presented an active image on social media, frequently sharing photos of her world travels and dining at upscale restaurants, as reported by AP.
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Wanying Zhang attended the match between Spain and Austria at the 2026 World Cup in Los Angeles on 2/7. Photo: Xiaohongshu/@美美哒Heather |
Wanying Zhang attended the match between Spain and Austria at the 2026 World Cup in Los Angeles on 2/7. Photo: Xiaohongshu/@美美哒Heather
Wanying Zhang, also known as Heather, is reportedly from Changsha city, Hunan province. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of International Relations in Beijing in 2014, then a master's degree in public administration from the University of Southern California (USC) in 2016.
Zhang held a real estate broker's license in California since 2016 and resided in Irvine. She worked for JC Pacific Capital. Records on the real estate platform Zillow indicate Zhang brokered 126 transactions, with an average value of 3 million USD, in Los Angeles and neighboring counties.
Zhang married Edric Ding, a colleague at the company. They reportedly have a young child.
On social media, Zhang projected the image of a real estate agent with an active life. She visited Paris, France, multiple times and met friends at resorts on the US West Coast.
She also frequently posted photos of shopping, dining, and enjoying time with her family. Some pictures show Zhang posing outside stores with shopping bags, standing at snowy mountain resorts, or dining at restaurants.
On the Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu, Zhang also posted about a trip to Seattle, Washington, on 2/9/2025. In the post, she complained about the security check wait times at the city's airport.
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The FBI arrested Zhang at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on 4/10. Photo: US Department of Justice |
Wanying Zhang shared photos of her life on social media. Photo: Instagram/heatherzhangwy
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Wanying Zhang shared photos of her life on social media. Photo: Instagram/heatherzhangwy
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Wanying Zhang shared photos of her life on social media. Photo: Instagram/heatherzhangwy
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Wanying Zhang shared photos of her life on social media. Photo: Xiaohongshu/@美美哒Heather
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Wanying Zhang shared photos of her life on social media. Photo: Xiaohongshu/@美美哒Heather
However, US authorities' investigation records indicate this trip was not merely for tourism. Zhang, along with a man referred to as "Individual 1", traveled from Las Vegas to Seattle the day before, rented an oto, and drove near Lai Dinh Du's home. A neighbor's security camera recorded the car parked in the area.
When Lai, along with his wife and child, returned home that evening, Zhang and her companion sat up straight, pointing their phones toward the family of Taiwan's leader's son. Zhang subsequently informed her Chinese contact via WeChat that she had seen "that young person", stating she was recording video and sending license plate information.
The FBI obtained Zhang's WeChat messages through a search warrant for her iCloud account. Records also indicate she communicated with at least two individuals whom investigators believe are connected to the Chinese government.
Ding told CBS News after his wife's arrest that he "knew nothing" about the incident and declined to comment further. It remains unclear whether Zhang has legal representation. JC Pacific Capital has removed information about Zhang from the company's website.
Essayli stated that Zhang will appear in federal court in Los Angeles on 12/10. Zhang could face a 10-year prison sentence if convicted.
China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated they "are not aware" of the information regarding this case, and they oppose the exaggeration of "Chinese spy" accusations aimed at slandering Beijing.
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The FBI arrested Zhang at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on 4/10. Photo: US Department of Justice
Zhang's arrest occurs amidst other notable cases in California involving allegations of "working for the Chinese government". In March, Elieen Wang, the mayor of Arcadia, admitted that she and her former fiance, Yaoning "Mike" Sun, disseminated content favorable to China through the U.S. News Center website from 2020 to 2022. According to the FBI, this content included pre-written articles sent to Wang and Sun within a WeChat group.
Prosecutor Essayli stated that the US will address clandestine activities by foreign governments on its territory.
"You cannot conduct foreign intelligence operations on US soil and then just fly home," the FBI posted in a warning message on social media platform X.
Nhu Tam (According to NY Post, Newsweek, AP)
