The sibling of a student from an Ontario university who was detained in an FBI counter-intelligence inquiry has rejected claims that her brother is knowingly engaged in espionage for Beijing. Meixuan Wang stated in a social media post that if her brother were a Chinese spy, then she would be akin to Trump’s father.
Weiheng Zeng, a Chinese national enrolled at the University of Waterloo, was apprehended while trying to cross the U.S. border from Windsor, Ontario, last month and accused of providing false information. In a criminal complaint, Zeng confessed to receiving paid “taskings” from an individual he believed to have ties to a Chinese security agency.
The complaint, submitted in U.S. District Court in Michigan, contains security camera footage showing a person climbing a forklift, attempting to access a locked FedEx truck, and taking photos in the parking lot at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport in April. Zeng informed investigators that his unidentified contact instructed him to photograph aircraft and tail numbers in exchange for $20-30 per picture.
Prosecutor Alyse Wu described the allegations as activities resembling espionage during the court session in Detroit. The U.S. Attorney’s Office spokesperson, Gina Balaya, stated that the case is still being investigated.
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 images of airplanes, including Canadian military aircraft apparently captured at an air show in 2024.
Wang, also known as Jade, disclosed to the Globe and Mail that her brother has a passion for airplanes and is on the autism spectrum. She mentioned that Zeng might not have comprehended the seriousness of his situation during questioning by U.S. border officials. Wang declined an interview request from CBC News.
Zeng is set to make another court appearance next week and remains in custody without seeking bond release. The RCMP is aware of the case, but did not confirm involvement in the FBI’s investigation. 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 unaware of the implications of his actions. An unnamed Chinese Embassy representative in Ottawa denounced the accusations of a “China spy threat” and unwarranted criticisms against China.
Michel Juneau-Katsuya, a former chief of the Asia-Pacific unit for CSIS, highlighted that individuals who accept payment for intelligence-related tasks are termed “co-optees” in the field. He speculated that Zeng might have been recruited to carry out tasks for a spy rather than being a spy himself.