The sibling of a student from a university in Ontario who was detained as part of an FBI investigation into counter-intelligence has rejected claims that her brother was knowingly taking part in espionage for China.
In a social media post, Meixuan Wang expressed disbelief at the accusations against her brother, stating, “If my brother is a Chinese spy, then I’m Trump’s father.” The student, Weiheng Zeng, a Chinese national born in 2004 and enrolled at the University of Waterloo, was apprehended while trying to cross the U.S. border from Windsor, Ontario, last month and charged with providing false information.
Information from a legal complaint revealed that Zeng confessed to accepting paid “tasks” from an individual he believed to have ties to a Chinese security agency. The complaint, submitted in U.S. District Court in Michigan, presented security footage allegedly showing a man scaling a forklift, attempting to access a locked FedEx truck, and taking photos from a parking area at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport in April.
According to court records, Zeng admitted to being directed by his undisclosed contact to capture images of aircraft and tail numbers, in exchange for payment ranging from $20 to $30 US per picture. Additionally, the complaint detailed Zeng’s account of trespassing and photographing at a FedEx facility at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport at the request of the same unidentified individual.
The prosecutor, Alyse Wu, described the allegations as activities akin to espionage during a court hearing in Detroit. Gina Balaya, a representative for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, mentioned that the case remains under investigation.
On his Instagram account under the name Billy, Zeng identifies himself as a “photography enthusiast” and anticipates completing his studies in Waterloo’s global business and digital arts program by 2028. His profile showcases plane images, including those of Canadian military aircraft reportedly taken at an air show in 2024.
Wang, also known as 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 grasped the severity of his situation when questioned by U.S. border officials.
Zeng, who is represented by court-appointed federal defender Rhonda Brazile, is set to make another court appearance next week. He remains in custody and did not seek bail. RCMP spokesperson Camille Boily-Lavoie acknowledged awareness of the case but refrained from commenting on potential involvement in the FBI’s investigation. CSIS directed inquiries to the RCMP.
Margaret McCuaig-Johnston, a member of an Ottawa-based think tank, expressed empathy for Zeng, suggesting that he may have been unwittingly drawn into the situation. She highlighted China’s Ministry of State Security’s practice of leveraging students abroad to gather intelligence and capture images beneficial to Beijing’s espionage activities.
In response to the situation, an unnamed spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa issued a statement denouncing the portrayal of a ‘China spy threat’ and unwarranted accusations against China. Michel Juneau-Katsuya, a former chief of the Asia-Pacific unit for CSIS, differentiated between spies and ‘co-optees’ who undertake tasks for intelligence organizations, suggesting that Zeng might fall into the latter category rather than being a direct spy.