The sibling of a student from a university in Ontario who was detained in an FBI investigation related to counter-intelligence operations has rejected claims that her brother was knowingly engaged in spying for China.
In a social media post on Wednesday, Meixuan Wang dismissed the allegations, stating, “If my brother is a Chinese spy, then I’m Trump’s father.”
Weiheng Zeng, a Chinese national born in 2004 and studying at the University of Waterloo, was apprehended last month while trying to cross the U.S. border from Windsor, Ontario. He faces charges of providing false information.
A criminal complaint revealed that Zeng confessed to accepting paid assignments from an individual he believed had ties to a Chinese security agency.
The complaint, lodged in U.S. District Court in Michigan, contained security footage showing a person climbing a forklift, attempting to access a locked FedEx truck, and taking pictures in a parking lot at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport in April.
Zeng admitted to investigators that he was instructed by his contact to photograph aircraft and tail numbers in exchange for $20-30 US per picture. He also confessed to trespassing and taking pictures at a FedEx facility at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport last year at the request of the same unidentified person.
Prosecutor Alyse Wu described the activities as “espionage-type activities” during the court proceedings in Detroit. The case remains under investigation, as confirmed by Gina Balaya, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Zeng, who goes by the name Billy on his public Instagram account, describes himself as a “photography lover” and anticipates graduating from Waterloo’s global business and digital arts program in 2028. His profile showcases pictures of planes, including Canadian military aircraft apparently taken at an air show in 2024.
Wang, also known as Jade, mentioned that her brother has a passion for airplanes and is on the autism spectrum. She suggested that Zeng might not have comprehended the severity of the situation when questioned by U.S. border officials.
Zeng is currently in custody and is set to appear in court next week without requesting bail. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) confirmed awareness of the case but refrained from disclosing their involvement in the FBI probe. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) redirected queries to the RCMP.
Margaret McCuaig-Johnston, a member of an Ottawa-based think tank, expressed sympathy for Zeng, suggesting he may have been unwittingly drawn into the situation. She highlighted China’s practice of utilizing students overseas to gather intelligence, emphasizing the need for deniability.
An unnamed spokesperson from the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa released a statement condemning the exaggeration of the “China spy threat” and unfounded accusations against China.
Michel Juneau-Katsuya, a former chief at CSIS, differentiated between spies and individuals recruited to perform tasks for intelligence agencies, labeling the latter as “co-optees.” He speculated that Zeng might fall into the latter category based on available information.