Wanying “Heather” Zhang, a 34-year-old California realtor, was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport after federal investigators accused her of acting as an unregistered agent for the Chinese government and allegedly surveilling the son of Taiwan’s president.
Zhang was arrested on October 4, 2026, as she was preparing to board a flight from LAX to Shanghai. She is accused of acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government.
Her Zillow profile lists about 130 sales and listings in the Los Angeles area and neighboring counties, according to CBS News. A former classmate from the university introduced her to a Chinese government official in June 2025, according to the federal complaint.
When CBS News contacted Ding following Zhang’s arrest, he said, “I don’t know anything yet,” and declined to comment further. FBI Special Agent Kevin Holt said the university has close ties to China’s Ministry of State Security. Zhang and a man identified as “Individual 1” traveled from Las Vegas to Seattle on September 1, 2025, according to the criminal complaint. The complaint says she also sent two vehicle license plate numbers.
Zhang lives in Irvine, California , and works as a licensed real estate agent with JC Pacific Capital Inc. She is married to Edric Ding, who also works as a realtor at the same firm. Zhang also studied at Beijing’s University of International Relations. They allegedly rented a black Nissan Rogue and drove to a home linked to Ting-Yu Lai, the son of Taiwan President Lai Ching-te. Investigators also allege Zhang sent messages to a Chinese government contact saying she had seen Lai and was recording him.
