U.S. arrests woman accused of spying on Taiwan VIP for China

U.S. authorities arrested a California ⁠woman on ​Sunday, accusing her of serving as an agent for China and spying on the son of Taiwan’s president, who lives in the United States. Wanying “Heather” Zhang, 34, was arrested at a Los Angeles airport while attempting to depart for China, a U.S. attorney for the Central District of California wrote in a social media post. Under the direction of Chinese authorities, Zhang allegedly surveilled Ting-Yu Lai, the son of Taiwanese President Ching-Te Lai, according to another post by the U.S. attorney, Bill Essayli. She sent photos, videos, and license plate information to Chinese officials, he said.

Ting-Yu currently resides in the United States after attending college in America and having a U.S.-born son with his wife, according to Taiwanese media outlets.

How has Taiwan responded? The nation’s presidential office thanked the U.S. government for protecting Taiwan’s people and condemned acts that harm Taiwan’s freedom and democracy. China’s foreign ministry has not publicly commented on Zhang’s arrest. China and Taiwan have tense relations as Beijing views the self-governing democratic island as a breakaway territory that needs to be reunified with the mainland.

What evidence do authorities have against Zhang? A criminal complaint released over the weekend detailed texts between her and two other alleged Chinese agents about tracking Ting-Yu Lai. Zhang allegedly communicated with the agents on the Chinese messaging app WeChat. Additionally, security camera feeds recorded images of Zhang and another person taking pictures of Lai’s house and family, the complaint said.

Zhang worked as a licensed California realtor, according to the complaint and her profile on Zillow. She was scheduled to appear in federal court in Los Angeles on Monday. Zhang is presumed innocent until proven guilty.