LOS ANGELES (KPTV) — A 34-year-old Irvine real estate agent accused of working as an agent for China was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport as she prepared to board a flight to China, federal prosecutors said.
Wanying “Heather” Zhang was taken into custody Sunday by the FBI, according to prosecutors.
Prosecutors allege Zhang watched the son of Taiwan’s president in Seattle last year.
“She was basically conducting espionage activities on an official who is related to the president of Taiwan,” U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said.
Essayli said the case is part of a broader effort by the Chinese government to gather information and shape politics in the United States.
“The government of China is using her to conduct espionage against its political opponents,” Essayli said. “They also have an influence campaign where they go and try to groom politicians, congressmembers, city council members, doesn’t really matter. They’ll try to get as much influence as they can.”
The arrest follows several other cases in Southern California involving alleged activity tied to China.
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