On Wednesday, October 7, media reported that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is concerned about the potential flight risk of California woman Zhang Wanying once she is released following her arrest at the Los Angeles International Airport on Sunday, the 4th. She has been accused of engaging in espionage activities for the Chinese Communist Party.
According to CBS News, law enforcement sources indicated that if Zhang Wanying is released after her court appearance on Wednesday, she may attempt to flee the United States.
Investigators disclosed that Zhang Wanying, a California real estate agent, owns a company in China and regularly deposits funds into a bank account in China, where her parents and siblings currently reside.
A law enforcement source stated that Zhang Wanying also holds a Chinese passport, although it was not found during an FBI search of her residence.
Sources chose to remain anonymous as they are not authorized to publicly discuss the matter. Zhang Wanying’s husband and sister declined to comment on the case.
At 34 years old, Zhang Wanying is a resident of Orange County, California, facing federal charges for allegedly surveilling the son of Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te in Washington State in 2025 under direction from Chinese government officials.
Currently detained by US Marshals in Los Angeles, Zhang was arrested while attempting to board a flight to Shanghai at the Los Angeles International Airport on Sunday.
On Monday, Zhang briefly appeared in court with a public defender present. The judge required her to hire a private attorney before the detention hearing on Wednesday afternoon.
Her husband, Edric Ding, who works with her at a real estate firm in Irvine, California, and his sister, an attorney, were both present at the hearing. Ding declined to comment on the case.
According to criminal charges against Zhang Wanying, she attended the School of International Relations in Beijing from 2010 to 2014, an institution managed by the Chinese Communist Party’s intelligence agency and secret police department, the National Security Bureau.
FBI Counterintelligence Special Agent Kevin Holt stated that the Chinese National Security Bureau “heavily recruits” graduates of international relations schools.
Two law enforcement sources informed CBS that Zhang Wanying was one of the top students in her international relations school class.
Zhang’s personal Facebook page indicates that she is friends with eight current or former staff and students at the university.
On Tuesday, CBS News revealed Zhang Wanying’s connection to a Chinese Communist Party overseas united front organization.
She had traveled with the All American Chinese Association (AACA) to San Francisco to celebrate Chinese Communist leader Xi Jinping’s visit to the US in 2023. Subsequently, pro-China individuals attacked democratic protesters outside the hotel where Xi Jinping was staying. There is currently no evidence linking Zhang to the violent incidents.
A photo shows her standing behind an AACA banner alongside the association’s leader Cai Chenghua.
Cai Chenghua also serves as the chairman of the United Chinese Association of America and the deputy chairman of the overseas committee and youth committee of the Chinese (Communist) Overseas United Front. Due to the close relationship between the Overseas United Front and the Chinese government, registration under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) is mandatory.
FARA requires foreign government agents to report their identities and any lobbying, influencing, or other activities in the US to the Department of Justice.
Cai Chenghua has frequently attended events with former Arcadia Mayor Wang Ailin from California, who admitted in May this year to acting as an agent of the Chinese government.
Jacqueline Deal, a consultant from State Armor Company, told CBS News, “Key personnel within US organizations associated with the Chinese Communist Party’s united front consistently appear in cases involving federal foreign agents, which is no coincidence. The mission of these organizations is to assist the Chinese Communist Party and harm the United States.”