The sibling of a student from a university in Ontario who was apprehended in an FBI inquiry into counter-intelligence has rejected claims that her brother is knowingly engaged in espionage for Beijing. Meixuan Wang expressed disbelief in a social media post, 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 and born in 2004, was arrested last month while trying to cross from Windsor, Ont., into the U.S. He faces charges of providing false information. Zeng confessed to receiving payment for completing tasks from an individual he believed was linked to a Chinese security agency, according to a criminal complaint filed in a Michigan court.
The complaint includes 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 in April. Zeng admitted to photographing aircraft and tail numbers under the direction of an unnamed contact for monetary compensation.
Allegations presented in the criminal complaint involve activities resembling espionage, as asserted by prosecutor Alyse Wu in a Detroit court. The case remains under investigation, confirmed Gina Balaya from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Weiheng Zeng, also known as Billy on his public Instagram account, describes himself as a photography enthusiast and is pursuing a degree in global business and digital arts at the University of Waterloo. His profile showcases pictures of airplanes, including Canadian military aircraft apparently captured at an air show in 2024.
Zeng’s sister, Jade Wang, mentioned that her brother has a passion for airplanes and is on the autism spectrum. She suggested that Zeng might not have fully comprehended the severity of his actions during the border interrogation.
Zeng is currently in custody and set to appear in court again next week. RCMP is aware of the case, while CSIS referred inquiries to the RCMP. Margaret McCuaig-Johnston, an advisor at the China Strategic Risks Institute, expressed sympathy for Zeng, indicating that students abroad are often coerced by China’s Ministry of State Security to gather intelligence.
An unnamed representative from the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa denounced the allegations of espionage against China. Michel Juneau-Katsuya, a former CSIS chief, pointed out that individuals paid to carry out tasks for intelligence agencies are typically termed “co-optees,” suggesting that Zeng may have been recruited for such activities.