US arrests alleged Chinese agent over covert surveillance operation

US authorities arrested ‌a California woman a day earlier and accused her of spying on a son of Taiwan's president at the behest of Chinese officials, the FBI said. The FBI arrested Wanying Zhang, also known as Heather, at Los ​Angeles International Airport a day earlier before her planned departure to China, the agency ​said in a statement. Authorities charged Zhang, 34, of Irvine, California, with ⁠acting as an unregistered foreign agent. Zhang surveilled a son of Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, ​the FBI said. The agency did not directly name Zhang's alleged target, but later shared a ​New York Post report identifying him as Lai Ting-yu, a US resident. Taiwan's presidential office described Zhang's actions as a "typical case of transnational repression" and thanked the US government for protecting Taiwanese citizens. Read More: China will not tolerate independence for Taiwan, Xi tells island's opposition leader "Our country expresses ​the strongest condemnation of such barbaric conduct that disregards human rights and the sovereignty of ​nations," spokesperson Karen Kuo said in a statement. China's foreign ministry did not respond to a request for ‌comment. The Justice Department said Zhang travelled to Seattle in 2025 at the direction of Chinese officials ​and sent them ​photos, video and license ⁠plate information of the Taiwanese president's son and his family. Zhang used tradecraft to avoid detection and never notified Washington that she was ​acting for a foreign government, Bill Essayli, the first assistant US attorney ​for the ⁠Central District of California, said in a statement. It was not immediately clear whether Zhang has a defence attorney. She will appear today in a Los Angeles federal court, Essayli said. Washington does ⁠not have ​formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, but the United States ​is the island's most important international backer and weapons supplier.

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