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BackChina is involved in surveillance of President Lai’s son in the United States. Former US Vice President Pence: Beijing is the biggest threat to the United States
China is involved in surveillance of President Lai’s son in the United States. Former US Vice President Pence: Beijing is the biggest threat to the United States
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自由时报1 hour agoWorld1 min readChinaView original

China is involved in surveillance of President Lai’s son in the United States. Former US Vice President Pence: Beijing is the biggest threat to the United States

Zhang WanyingLai Qingdeburns

Quick Look

  • Chang Wanying, a Chinese real estate agent in Irvine, California, was arrested on suspicion of being instructed by Chinese officials to follow the son of Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te in the United States.
  • She was also suspected of helping China track down the address in the United States of another Taiwanese elected public official who was openly anti-communist.
  • Vice President Mike Pence and Chairman of the House of Representatives Special Committee on U.S.-China Strategic Competition, Robert Mueller, both strongly condemned the CCP’s violation of U.S. sovereignty and believed that its actions constituted a global threat.

AI-generated summary

Why It Matters

Zhang Wanying, a Chinese real estate agent in Irvine, California, is suspected of meeting with Chinese officials during her visit to China on January 25, 2025, and then asked through WeChat for the addresses of Taiwanese elected public officials.

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Thirty-four-year-old Chinese real estate agent Chang Wanying of Irvine, California, was arrested on suspicion of being instructed by Chinese officials to follow the son of Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te in the United States. Court documents also revealed that Chang Wanying was also suspected of helping China track down the address in the United States of another "publicly anti-communist Taiwanese elected public official." Former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence criticized the CCP for seriously infringing on U.S. sovereignty and posing the biggest strategic threat to the United States.

On the 6th, Pence posted on the social platform The commentary pointed out that this case is just the "tip of the iceberg" of China's espionage and transnational suppression in the United States. The CCP is trying to collect intelligence information about President Lai's family as a bargaining chip to "blackmail or harm Taiwan's president and his party."

Please read on...

House of Representatives: China is a global threat

Robert Mueller, chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives' Special Committee on U.S.-China Strategic Competition, also issued a statement on the 6th, strongly condemning the CCP's behavior of monitoring and harassing innocent people as a violation of U.S. sovereignty and "extremely disgusting." He said that the CCP’s intention to take further actions against the Taiwanese President’s family members in the United States is “creepy.” He also reminded all walks of life that the CCP’s ambition to destabilize the Taiwan Strait has become a global threat. He also emphasized that “I hope President Lai and his family know that the Special Committee and the American people support and support them.”

The affidavit of FBI agent Holt released by the Federal District Court for the Central District of California shows that Zhang met a Chinese official during her visit to China on January 25, 2025, and then asked the other party through "WeChat" about "the address mentioned last time." The other party replied that the matter was clear and there was no need to trouble her anymore.

Holt pointed out that this address in Irvine, California, had previously been associated with a "Taiwanese elected public official who has publicly opposed the stance of the Chinese Communist Party" and concluded that Chinese intelligence agencies may have asked Zhang to collect information on the residents of this address. The identity of the Taiwanese person has not yet been confirmed.

What to Watch

AI outlook — possibilities, not facts

  • The United States will file formal espionage-related charges against Zhang Wanying and conduct judicial proceedings

    Very likely · Within weeks

  • The U.S. Congress will further strengthen monitoring and legislative response to China’s espionage activities

    Likely · Within months

Open Questions

  • Who exactly is this Taiwanese elected public official who is openly anti-communist?
  • Did Zhang Wanying really obtain the information of the residents at this address?
  • What specific role did Chinese officials play in this matter?
  • What specific charges will the U.S. judicial system bring against Zhang Wanying?

Related Topics

Zhang Wanying
PeopleSon of Lai QingdeburnsMulenaar
OrganizationsFBIU.S. House of Representatives Special Committee on U.S.-China Strategic Competition
PlacesIrvine, CaliforniaChinaTaiwanUnited States
TopicsLai QingdeburnsMulenaarChinese officialsWeChatFBI
This article was originally published by 自由时报.

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