A 34-year-old woman named Wanying Zhang was arrested in Los Angeles on October 4 by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) as she tried to leave the United States for China. She is accused of spying on the family of Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, particularly monitoring the president’s son and his associates living in the U.S. According to U.S. authorities, Zhang shared photos, videos, and license plate information with Chinese officials, tracking the movements of Lai Ching-te’s son and his family. Zhang was caught at Los Angeles Airport and is set to appear in federal court later this week. The arrest was criticized by Taipei, which called it an example of "transnational repression." Lai Ching-te’s office confirmed that the actions targeted members of the president’s family. Karen Kuo, a spokesperson for the Taiwanese government, said such actions should not be accepted in the modern world and expressed gratitude to U.S. authorities for protecting Taiwanese citizens. FBI Director Kash Patel commented on the arrest, saying that trying to board a flight to China while supposedly monitoring a foreign leader’s family in the U.S. would not be possible. He warned foreign adversaries that the U.S. is no longer a safe place for espionage. Zhang, who lives in Irvine, California, had planned the trip with an associate and used methods to avoid being detected, according to Bill Essayli, a federal prosecutor in California. The incident comes at a time of increased tension between the U.S. and China, with Taiwan’s security being a major concern. The U.S. is the primary supplier of military equipment to Taiwan, and Taipei is waiting for approval of a record $14 billion military contract. Earlier, former U.S. President Donald Trump referred to this contract as a "very good bargaining chip" with China, raising concerns about the impact on Taiwan’s security.