US real estate agent arrested for alleged surveillance of Taiwanese president’s family

The 34-year-old mother was arrested on Sunday, 4 October 2026, at the Los Angeles International Airport, where she was allegedly planning to board a flight to China.

On social media, first assistant US attorney for the Central District of California Bill Essayli said authorities arrested Zhang after suspecting she was acting as an unregistered agent of the People’s Republic of China in the United States.

Through a federal complaint, the US government alleged that Zhang had been surveilling relatives of Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te and passed information to people believed to be Chinese government officials.

According to a 27-page federal criminal complaint and an FBI affidavit, Zhang travelled to Seattle with an associate on or around 1 September 2025, where authorities allege they monitored the target and his family.

The complaint alleged Zhang and her associate photographed and filmed the Taiwanese President’s son Lai Ting-yu and sent related footage and vehicle details to a Chinese official.

Additionally, Essayli alleged that Zhang followed instructions from Beijing and used “tradecraft” to avoid detection, adding that she “never notified” the US government that she was acting on behalf of a foreign government.

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The FBI affidavit stated that Zhang attended the University of International Relations in Beijing, which it said is closely associated with China’s intelligence apparatus.

One of the PRC’s officials allegedly directing Zhang was a former university classmate who remained in contact with her after they graduated around 2014.

The affidavit also alleged that Zhang and the former classmate met in China in June and August 2025, during which officials believe she was likely tasked with surveilling a close relative of a Taiwanese government official.

While observing the home, neighbouring security footage allegedly showed Zhang and her associate waiting for the target to arrive home before taking out their phones and appearing to photograph or record the family.

Following a review of Zhang’s phone, the FBI said it found WeChat messages sent outside the target’s home, where she allegedly exchanged messages with a Chinese government official.

“Saw him. Young male. It’s that young one,” Zhang allegedly wrote, later adding that she was making a video recording.

Zhang allegedly later sent two licence plates to the official, which the FBI said were registered to the target of their surveillance.

According to Realtor, Zhang and her husband were both property professionals, with the agent selling 126 properties with an average price of US$3.3 million ($4.7 million).

Her contact information has since been removed from JC Pacific Capital’s public website.

Zhang will appear in federal court in Los Angeles on Monday for her initial appearance.

If convicted, she could face up to 10 years in federal prison.

Taiwanese presidential spokesperson Karen Kuo expressed Taipei’s “strongest condemnation” of the alleged actions, while thanking US judicial authorities for their assistance and protection of Taiwanese citizens.

Kuo said Taiwan would continue working with democratic allies and partners to combat transnational repression.

FBI director Kash Patel said the FBI was pursuing threats to US national security and bringing those responsible to justice.

“Foreign adversaries, take note: America is no longer a safe place to run your espionage operations,” Patel said on X.

The case comes amid longstanding tensions over Taiwan’s status.

The FBI affidavit alleged the surveillance was intended to gather information that could potentially be used as leverage against Taiwan’s president in the event of a conflict.

China claims sovereignty over the self-governed island and has not ruled out the use of force to bring it under its control, while the US maintains a “One China” policy that acknowledges Beijing’s position without recognising its claim over Taiwan.

The arrest could further strain relations between the three parties involved.