The FBI arrested a California woman at Los Angeles International Airport on Sunday as she allegedly attempted to leave the United States for China after conducting surveillance for Chinese government officials.

Wanying Zhang, also known as “Heather,” 34, of Irvine, was arrested on a federal complaint accusing her of acting as an unregistered agent of the People’s Republic of China. She is scheduled to appear in federal court in Los Angeles Monday.

According to the criminal complaint, Zhang traveled from Las Vegas to Seattle in September 2025 with an associate and then drove to the home of a close relative of a senior Taiwanese government official. Investigators allege that she photographed and recorded the residence, vehicles, and family members and provided the information to Chinese officials.

Law enforcement sources identified the person being targeted as Ting-Yu Lai, the son of Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te. Ting-Yu Lai, who is in his 30s, works as an engineer and lives in the Seattle area with his wife and young son.

FBI Special Agent Kevin Holt wrote that information about the location, homes, and vehicles of relatives of a senior Taiwanese official could potentially give Beijing leverage over Taiwan’s president during a future conflict.

The complaint alleges Zhang coordinated the surveillance with another individual and used methods intended to avoid detection. Security footage allegedly captured Zhang and her associate attempting to film Lai and his family.

Investigators also allege that Zhang communicated with Chinese government contacts about her activities. After the U.S. government obtained a warrant for her iCloud account, investigators found messages in which Zhang appeared to confirm that she had located her target and was recording him, along with two license plate numbers.

According to prosecutors, Zhang had been introduced to people she appeared to recognize as Chinese government officials only months before the surveillance operation.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said Zhang failed to notify the U.S. Attorney General that she was acting on behalf of a foreign government, which federal law requires for certain foreign-agent activities.

Zhang's arrest comes amid broader U.S. concerns about Chinese espionage and efforts to gather intelligence on Taiwanese officials and their families. The allegations against Zhang remain unproven unless established in court.