Chinese Student Arrested in US for Alleged Espionage Activities

Weiheng Zeng, an undergraduate student at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, was arrested in Michigan on August 23 after US authorities accused him of taking photographs at airports and freight facilities. Zeng allegedly acted at the request of a person he believed was linked to the Chinese government. He has been charged with making false statements to federal authorities but has not been formally charged with espionage. The investigation began with an incident at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport in April, where a man was seen taking photographs at a FedEx cargo facility. Zeng was later linked to this incident when he attempted to enter the US again in the same vehicle used during the April event. During interviews with investigators, Zeng provided conflicting accounts of his activities, initially claiming he was visiting his sister and photographing aircraft for a flight-tracking website. However, agents found photographs of military planes and tactical gear on his phone. Zeng reportedly communicated with a Chinese contact through an aviation enthusiasts' website, who allegedly paid him for specific photographs and provided SIM cards for communication. His sister, Meixuan Wang, has publicly denied the allegations, stating that her brother is simply passionate about airplanes and has autism spectrum disorder.