Accused Chinese spy’s shady past exposed as she’s spotted with secretive intelligence-linked syndicate

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A California realtor who has been accused of spying for China was photographed with members of a Chinese-American organization linked to Beijing’s intelligence services.

Wanying “Heather” Zhang was arrested at LAX on Sunday on allegations she surveilled the Taiwanese president’s son in Seattle as part of an espionage plot for her home country.

The 34-year-old from Orange County allegedly exchanged numerous creepy texts about the Taiwanese family with her handlers, and pictures appeared to show her parked outside his home taking photographs.

Now, an image has emerged of Zhang during a visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to San Francisco in November 2023.

She is seen wearing a red baseball cap and standing behind a banner for the All American Chinese Association.

The photo, which was uncovered by security expert Michael Lucci, shows her alongside AACA president Cai Chenghua, also known as Edward Cai.

The picture has drawn attention because of the AACA’s connections to organizations and individuals tied to the Chinese Communist Party‘s “united front” system.

The CCP’s United Front Work Department oversees a strategy aimed in part at building relationships with overseas Chinese communities and influential figures abroad.

A Hoover Institution report on Chinese influence operations found that overseas organizations and community groups have been used to cultivate support for Beijing’s political objectives and messaging.

The AACA’s leadership, including Cai, has particularly close connections to organizations associated with Beijing, according to CBS.

Cai previously served as vice chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, which reported the organization’s US operation was required to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act because of its relationship with Beijing and its associated intelligence services.

The AACA itself, however, has not been charged with acting as an illegal foreign agent, and Cai has not been accused of a crime.

But the photo, is a clue of Zhang being in the general orbit of Chinese government officials, well before she was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport Sunday.

Federal authorities allege Zhang’s relationship with Chinese officials eventually went much further.

Zhang was charged with acting as an unregistered agent of the Chinese government. She was accused of allegedly traveling to Seattle in Sept. 2025 and secretly surveilling Lai Ting-yu, the son of Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, and his family at the direction of Chinese officials.

She will appear in court for another hearing Tuesday.

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