By Tenzin Chokyi

DHARAMSALA, 5 Oct: A California woman has been arrested while attempting to depart to China on charges of acting as an unregistered Chinese agent and spying on the son of Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te. The case has renewed attention to Beijing’s documented efforts to extend its repressive reach beyond China’s borders and target Tibetans, Uyghurs and other exiled communities.

According to Reuters, Wanying Zhang, also known as Heather, 34, was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport on Sunday before her planned departure to China. Prosecutors allege that she travelled to Seattle in 2025 at the direction of Chinese officials and surveilled the son of Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te and his family, sending Chinese officials photographs, videos and licence-plate information. She has been charged with “acting as an unregistered foreign agent.&rdquo...