An Orange County real estate agent, Wanying “Heather” Zhang, 34, based in Irvine, has been detained and now faces federal charges for allegedly acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government. Authorities claim Zhang covertly surveilled the son of Taiwan's president for the People’s Republic of China.
Prosecutors say Zhang traveled to Seattle last year to follow the Taiwanese president's son, relaying information about his movements to Chinese government officials. Zhang was taken into custody on Sunday at Los Angeles International Airport, where she was reportedly planning to board a flight to China, according to a social media post by First Assistant U.S. Atty. Bill Essayli.
Assistant Atty. Gen. for National Security John A. Eisenberg described the central allegation as "deeply troubling," emphasizing that Zhang acted "at the behest of the People’s Republic of China" to covertly surveil relatives of a high-ranking foreign official within the United States. Eisenberg noted that law enforcement partners, including the National Security Division, U.S. Attorney’s Offices, and the FBI, will remain vigilant against such threats on American soil.
FBI Special Agent Kevin Holt detailed the allegations in an affidavit filed with the criminal complaint. Holt alleged that Zhang and another individual, under direction from Chinese officials, traveled to Seattle last year to photograph and gather information about a close relative of a Taiwanese government official. The FBI stated in a social media post that Zhang surveilled Lai Ting-yu, the Taiwanese president’s son, and his family in September last year, reportedly filming their home and vehicles and sending information back to her handlers.
According to the complaint, Zhang and another individual flew from John Wayne Airport in Orange County to Las Vegas on August 29, 2025. They then flew to Seattle on September 1 and rented a black 2025 Nissan Rogue SUV. Security camera footage from a neighbor reportedly shows Zhang and the other person arriving at the surveillance target’s home around 4:50 p.m. and waiting in the rented car. When the man and his family, including children, arrived around 6 p.m., footage allegedly captured Zhang and the individual holding up their phones, appearing to take pictures and/or videos of the family.
Holt’s affidavit states that reviewed WeChat messages indicated Zhang allegedly exchanged messages with a Chinese government official while outside the home. Zhang reportedly wrote, “Saw him. Young male. It’s that young one,” later adding that she was making a video recording. She allegedly later sent two license plates to the official, which Holt said were registered to the surveillance target.
Essayli underscored the importance of confronting foreign governments engaged in covert operations, stating that Zhang “acted at the direction of Chinese government officials to spy on the family of a senior Taiwanese official here in the United States.”
Holt noted in the complaint that despite Taiwan’s democratically elected government, “PRC President Xi Jinping has vowed to unify Taiwan with China,” prioritizing military modernization for potential force. Holt wrote that coercive activities beyond normal diplomatic, economic, and security actions are meant to diminish Taiwan’s will to fight. He suggested that obtaining the location and pictures of close relatives of a high-ranking Taiwanese official, including their homes and cars, could be useful to the Chinese government for leverage.
Zhang lives in Irvine with her husband, Edric Ding, who is also a real estate agent. Reached by phone, Ding declined to comment on the arrest, telling a reporter, “I don’t want to talk to you guys,” before hanging up.
The complaint also reveals that federal authorities reviewed records from iCloud accounts linked to Zhang and an identified “Individual 1.” These records indicated Zhang attended the University of International Relations in Beijing. Holt noted that public reporting suggests UIR is closely affiliated with China’s intelligence apparatus. Zhang reportedly maintained contact with a former classmate from the university, identified as a purported Chinese government official (PRC Official 1), since graduating around 2014. This classmate later allegedly introduced Zhang to another government official (PRC Official 2).
Zhang and PRC Official 2 reportedly met in June 2025 in China to discuss a “U.S. house.” The following month, Zhang allegedly messaged PRC Official 2 that she was busy but would “probably go to Seattle next week,” to which the official reportedly responded, “OK. Thank you for your hard work.”
This arrest follows months after Eileen Wang, a former mayor in Arcadia, pleaded guilty to acting as an illegal agent of China. Wang admitted she was directed by the Chinese government to promote propaganda in the United States between 2020 and 2022.
