The sibling of a student from a university in Ontario who was apprehended in an FBI operation involving counter-intelligence has rejected claims that her brother is knowingly engaged in espionage for China.
In a social media post, Meixuan Wang refuted the allegations, stating, “If my brother is a Chinese spy, then I’m Trump’s father.” The individual in question, Weiheng Zeng, a Chinese national studying at the University of Waterloo, was arrested while trying to cross into the U.S. from Windsor, Ontario, and charged with providing false information.
As per a legal complaint, Zeng confessed to receiving paid assignments from someone he believed to be linked to a Chinese security agency. The complaint, lodged in a U.S. District Court in Michigan, includes security footage depicting a man climbing a forklift, attempting to access a secured FedEx truck, and taking photos in a parking area at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport in April.
Zeng disclosed to investigators that his unidentified contact instructed him to photograph airplanes and tail numbers, offering $20-30 US per picture. Additionally, the complaint detailed Zeng’s admission of trespassing and taking pictures at a FedEx facility at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport last year under the direction of the same undisclosed individual.
The allegations have been described by prosecutor Alyse Wu in a Detroit court as activities akin to espionage. Gina Balaya, a representative for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, mentioned that the case remains under investigation.
On Zeng’s public Instagram profile, where he is known as Billy, he labels himself a “photography enthusiast” and anticipates graduating from Waterloo’s global business and digital arts program in 2028. His account showcases images of planes, including Canadian military aircraft seemingly captured at an air display in 2024. Furthermore, Zeng’s Instagram features snapshots from trips to Chicago, where his sibling, an artist, resides and works.
Wang, also known as Jade, disclosed to the Globe and Mail that her brother has a strong interest in airplanes and is on the autism spectrum. She expressed that Zeng might not have comprehended the severity of his situation during questioning by U.S. border officials.
Zeng is set to appear in court again next week and remains in custody without a bond request. While the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is aware of the case, they did not confirm their involvement in the FBI’s inquiry. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) redirected inquiries to the RCMP.
Margaret McCuaig-Johnston, an advisory board member at the China Strategic Risks Institute think-tank, expressed sympathy towards Zeng, stating that he may have been unaware of the implications of his actions. She highlighted the routine utilization of overseas students by China’s Ministry of State Security to gather intelligence and capture photos beneficial to Beijing’s intelligence agencies.
An unnamed spokesperson from the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa rejected the notion of a ‘China spy threat’ and baseless accusations against China. Michel Juneau-Katsuya, a former chief of the Asia-Pacific unit for CSIS, differentiated between spies and individuals recruited to carry out tasks for intelligence groups, referring to the latter as “co-optees.”
The article mentions that Zeng’s lawyer, Rhonda Brazile, did not respond to requests for comments. The report concludes with the perspective that Zeng may have been recruited to work for a spy rather than acting as a spy himself.
