California woman indicted on charges that she was spying for China - BERITAJA

A California female who prosecutors allege was spying connected a boy of Taiwan’s president was indicted earlier this period connected charges of conspiracy and being an unregistered overseas supplier for China.

The indictment was revenge Oct. 9 successful U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, and the allegations it lays retired reflector an earlier criminal title against Wanying Zhang, 34, of Irvine, California.

Prosecutors opportunity Zhang, who besides goes by Heather, spied connected a boy of Taiwan’s president extracurricular his location successful the Seattle area astatine the behest of Chinese officials. The alleged spying took spot betwixt about June and September 2025, prosecutors claim.

Taiwan is simply a self-ruled populist that is the root of 90% of the world’s “leading-edge spot manufacturing,” according to the U.S. International Trade Administration. China claims Taiwan, and the United States has recognized this for about half a century, though the U.S. is required by rule to guarantee Taiwan could take sides itself.

Prosecutors allege Zhang was nether the guidance of an unnamed Chinese authorities charismatic and erstwhile classmate astatine her alma mater, China’s University of International Relations, which is “closely affiliated pinch China’s intelligence apparatus,” an FBI interrogator said successful earlier tribunal documents.

An illustration of her alleged activity includes a petition by the erstwhile classmate to nonstop him pictures “of the house” wherever the boy lives, according to the indictment.

Prosecutors alleged she flew from California to Las Vegas and past to the Seattle area to surveil the unidentified boy and his location from outside.

The indictment alleges she captured photos, video and licence sheet accusation and sent them to her alleged Chinese handler. An unidentified person, who had fled to China successful September, was pinch her, prosecutors said.

Zhang besides traveled to China successful August 2025 to meet pinch a Chinese authorities official, earlier returning days later and telling the charismatic she’d apt beryllium going to wherever the unfortunate was the pursuing week, according to the indictment.

Her lawyer, Craig Harbaugh, did not instantly respond to a petition for remark Sunday.

Previously, the seasoned criminal defense lawyer described Zhang an upstanding resident of Irvine, about 42 miles southeast of L.A., wherever she lives pinch her hubby and 2 young daughters.

“The government’s mentation — she’s been a sleeper supplier for the past 10 years, moving arsenic a existent property agent, raising her family and will take to spell to China and wantonness her work, her family and her location — it’s not supported,” Harbaugh said successful tribunal Oct. 7.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Steve Kim ordered Zhang held successful pretrial detention aft prosecutors based on she poses a formation risk. The U.S. Bureau of Prisons website shows that she remains successful custody.

Zhang is scheduled to look successful national territory tribunal connected Friday for a post-indictment arraignment. She faces up to 15 years successful prison.