The sibling of a student at a university in Ontario who was detained in a counter-intelligence investigation by the FBI has rejected the claim that her brother knowingly participated in espionage activities for the Chinese government.
In a social media post, Meixuan Wang expressed disbelief, stating, “If my brother is a Chinese spy, then I’m Trump’s father.” 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 the U.S. border from Windsor, Ontario, last month. He was charged with providing false information.
As per a court document, Zeng confessed to receiving paid assignments from an individual he believed was linked to a Chinese security agency. The complaint, filed in a Michigan court, includes security footage depicting an individual climbing a forklift, attempting to access a locked FedEx truck, and capturing images at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport in April.
Zeng admitted to investigators that he was instructed by an unidentified person to photograph airplanes and tail numbers in exchange for $20-30 US per picture. The same complaint also mentioned Zeng’s admission to trespassing and taking pictures at a FedEx location at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport at the behest of the same individual.
Prosecutor Alyse Wu described the allegations as activities resembling espionage during a court session in Detroit. The case is currently under investigation, according to Gina Balaya, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Zeng, who is identified as “Billy” on his public Instagram page, where he presents himself as a “photography lover,” is pursuing a degree in global business and digital arts at the University of Waterloo. His profile showcases images of various planes, including Canadian military aircraft apparently captured at an air show in 2024.
His sister, Jade, revealed that Zeng has a passion for airplanes and is on the autism spectrum. She suggested that he might not have fully comprehended the severity of the situation when questioned by U.S. border officials. Zeng’s lawyer, Rhonda Brazile, did not respond to requests for comments.
Zeng is set for another court appearance next week and remains in custody without seeking bail. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is aware of the case, but declined to comment on their involvement in the FBI’s inquiry. CSIS referred inquiries to the RCMP.
Margaret McCuaig-Johnston, an advisory board member at the China Strategic Risks Institute, expressed sympathy for Zeng, suggesting he may have been unwittingly involved in activities that he did not fully understand. She explained that foreign intelligence agencies often leverage students abroad to gather sensitive information.
An unnamed spokesperson from the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa criticized the “China spy threat” narrative and unfounded accusations against China. Michel Juneau-Katsuya, a former CSIS chief, mentioned that individuals paid to carry out tasks for intelligence agencies are typically referred to as “co-optees” in the industry.
Juneau-Katsuya raised the question of whether Zeng was acting as a spy or was recruited to perform tasks for a spy, leaning towards the latter possibility.
