US arrests woman accused of spying on Taiwan president’s family

A woman accused of spying on the family of Taiwan’s president has been arrested in the United States while allegedly attempting to leave the country for China, American and Taiwanese officials said. Wanying Zhang, 34, was detained by the FBI at Los Angeles airport, according to First Assistant US Attorney Bill Essayli. He said she was accused of acting as an unregistered agent of China and spying on a close relative of a Taiwanese government official in the United States.

The FBI alleged that Zhang surveilled President Lai Ching-te’s son and his family, recording their home and vehicles and reporting information to handlers from the People’s Republic of China. Essayli said Zhang travelled to Seattle in 2025 and, at the direction of Chinese officials, sent them photographs, videos and vehicle licence-plate information. He also alleged that Zhang, who lives in Irvine, California, coordinated the trip with an associate and used methods intended to avoid detection.

She is expected to make her initial appearance in federal court on Monday. The supplied material does not give details of a possible legal response from Zhang. Lai’s office confirmed that the president’s family had been targeted and condemned what it called “transnational repression”.

Presidential Office spokeswoman Karen Kuo thanked US judicial authorities for their assistance and protection of Taiwanese citizens. China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has threatened to use force to bring the island under its control. Lai, elected president in January 2024, has defended Taiwan’s sovereignty and is opposed by China’s leadership.

Taiwan’s government has warned its citizens of increasing risks to their safety in China and elsewhere. The warning followed the introduction in July of China’s Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress, which critics say could provide further grounds for targeting opponents abroad.