The sibling of a student attending a university in Ontario who was taken into custody during an FBI counter-intelligence probe has rejected claims that her brother had any knowledge of engaging in espionage activities for China. Meixuan Wang stated in a social media post that if her brother was a spy for China, then she would be related to former President Trump.
The student in question, Weiheng Zeng, a Chinese national born in 2004 and enrolled at the University of Waterloo, was apprehended while trying to cross from Windsor, Ontario into the United States last month. He faces charges of providing false information. Zeng reportedly confessed to receiving payment for carrying out tasks from an individual he believed had connections to a Chinese security service.
A criminal complaint filed in a U.S. District Court in Michigan contains security footage showing a person climbing a forklift, attempting to access a locked FedEx truck, and taking photographs at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. Zeng admitted to taking pictures of aircraft and tail numbers as instructed by his unidentified contact in exchange for $20-30 per photo.
The allegations against Zeng involve activities resembling espionage, as stated by prosecutor Alyse Wu during the court proceedings in Detroit. The case is still being investigated, according to Gina Balaya, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
On Zeng’s public Instagram profile under the name Billy, he describes himself as a photography enthusiast and mentions his expected graduation from the University of Waterloo’s global business and digital arts program in 2028. His posts feature aircraft images, including those of Canadian military planes apparently taken at an air show in 2024.
Zeng’s sister, Jade, disclosed to the Globe and Mail that her brother has a strong passion for airplanes and is on the autism spectrum. She suggested that Zeng might not have comprehended the severity of his situation when questioned by U.S. border officials. Wang declined an interview request from CBC News.
The court-appointed federal defender listed as Zeng’s attorney, Rhonda Brazile, did not respond to requests for comment. Zeng is set for another court appearance next week and remains in custody without seeking bond release.
The RCMP is aware of the case, but declined to confirm their involvement in the FBI investigation. CSIS redirected inquiries to the RCMP regarding the matter.
Margaret McCuaig-Johnston, an advisory board member at the China Strategic Risks Institute, expressed sympathy towards Zeng, implying that he may have been unaware of the implications of his actions. She suggested that foreign intelligence services often target students abroad for information gathering purposes.
An unnamed representative from the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa released a statement condemning the speculations and accusations surrounding the alleged spy incident. Michel Juneau-Katsuya, a former CSIS official, explained that individuals paid to conduct tasks for intelligence agencies are typically known as “co-optees.”
The ongoing investigation into Zeng’s case continues as the legal process unfolds, shedding light on the complexities of espionage-related activities.