Irvine woman detained while trying to fly to China, accused of surveilling in Seattle
Oct 5, 2026, 6:52 AM
Headshot of Wanying Zhang, 34, who also goes by the name "Heather." (Photo courtesy of KIRO 7)
(Photo courtesy of KIRO 7)
Federal authorities said they arrested an Irvine, California woman Sunday at Los Angeles International Airport as she attempted to board a flight to China.
Bill Essayli, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, said Wanying Zhang, 34, who also goes by the name “Heather,” was arrested by the FBI on a federal complaint charging her with acting as an unregistered agent of the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
According to a federal affidavit, Zhang traveled to Seattle in 2025 under the direction of Chinese officials to surveil a close relative of a Taiwanese government official. Federal law requires any individual acting as an agent of a foreign government to notify the U.S. Attorney General.
Essayli confirmed the airport operation.
“We just arrested a Chinese foreign agent at LAX attempting to depart for China,” Essayli said.
During the Seattle surveillance, Zhang allegedly compiled photos, videos, and license plate information before sending the material to Chinese officials. Federal investigators said that she coordinated the trip alongside an associate and employed tradecraft to avoid detection by authorities.
Zhang is scheduled to make her initial appearance in federal court in Los Angeles on Monday.
