An Irvine woman accused of spying on family members of Taiwan’s president pleaded not guilty Friday in downtown Los Angeles to federal charges. Wanying "Heather" Zhang, 34, faces accusations of conspiracy and being an unregistered foreign agent for China, according to federal prosecutors.
Zhang’s arrest took place in early October when the FBI apprehended her at Los Angeles International Airport as she was attempting to travel to China, the U.S. Attorney’s Office reported. Following her plea, a trial has been tentatively scheduled for November 30 in federal court in Santa Ana.
Federal prosecutors contend Zhang traveled to Seattle in 2025. During this trip, they allege she acted under the direction of the People’s Republic of China, monitoring the Taiwanese president’s son and his family. The accusations include sending photos, videos, and license plate information related to the family to Chinese officials.
Court papers indicate that Zhang allegedly coordinated this trip with an associate, employing specific spying techniques to avoid detection. Prosecutors further state that Zhang never notified the attorney general of her alleged actions on behalf of a foreign government, which constitutes a federal offense.
If convicted on the charges, Zhang could face a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison.
FBI Director Kash Patel previously commented on the arrest via social media, stating that "Foreign adversaries take note: America is no longer a safe place to run your espionage operations." A spokesperson for Taiwan’s presidential office described Zhang’s suspected actions as a "classic case of transnational repression." The spokesperson added that Taiwan condemns such "barbaric acts" that disregard human rights and national sovereignty, aiming to suppress or threaten individuals advocating for freedom and democracy, or their families.
Roman Rozhavsky, assistant director of the FBI’s counterintelligence and espionage division, characterized Zhang’s alleged actions as part of a "brazen plot directed by the Chinese government" to spy on relatives of a Taiwanese government official on U.S. soil. Rozhavsky further stated that "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." He also affirmed the FBI’s "unwavering commitment" to defending democratic allies' sovereignty and combating attempts by foreign adversaries, including the Chinese government, to conduct transnational repression within U.S. borders.
