Claims of Espionage by Ontario Student Denied by Sister

The sister of an Ontario university student who was arrested in an FBI counter-intelligence investigation has rejected the idea that her brother is knowingly involved in spying for Beijing.

“If my brother is a Chinese spy, then I’m Trump’s father,” Meixuan Wang wrote in a social media post on Wednesday.

Weiheng Zeng – a Chinese national born in 2004 and studying at the University of Waterloo – was detained last month while trying to cross into the U. S. from Windsor, Ont., and charged with making false statements.

A criminal complaint states that Zeng admitted he took paid “taskings” from someone he thought was linked to a Chinese security service.

This complaint, filed in U. S. District Court in Michigan, includes security camera footage showing a man climbing onto a forklift, attempting to open a locked Fed Ex truck, and taking pictures from a parking lot at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport back in April.

Court documents reveal that Zeng told investigators his unnamed contact instructed him to photograph aircraft and tail numbers for $20-30 US per image. 

The criminal complaint, signed by FBI special agent Robert Holbrook, also mentions that Zeng recounted trespassing and photographing at a Fed Ex facility at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport last year at the request of the same unidentified person.

The accusations suggest “espionage-type activities,” according to prosecutor Alyse Wu during proceedings in Detroit court.

Gina Balaya, spokesperson for the U. S. Attorney’s Office, mentioned via email to that the case remains under investigation.

WATCH | Zeng suspected of espionage:

Ontario university student suspected of spying in Canada, U. S. for China

University of Waterloo student Weiheng Zeng is being looked into for espionage after admitting to accessing U. S. and Canadian airport facilities to take photos of planes on behalf of an unknown Chinese handler.

Self-described ‘photography lover’

Zeng’s public Instagram account – where he goes by Billy – labels him as a “photography lover,” noting he anticipates graduating from Waterloo’s global business and digital arts program in 2028.

His profile showcases images of planes including Canadian military aircraft seemingly captured at an air show scheduled for 2024.

Zeng’s Instagram also contains photos from trips taken to Chicago where his sister works as an artist according to her social media profiles.

Zeng posted this image of Royal Canadian Air Force aircraft, seemingly photographed at an air show in 2024, on his Instagram page. (Billy Zeng/Instagram)

Wang, who also uses the name Jade, shared with Globe and Mail that her brother has a fascination with airplanes and has autism spectrum disorder. She believes Zeng might not have been fully aware of how serious his situation was when questioned by U. S. border officials.

Wang declined ’s request for an interview.

Rhonda Brazile, listed as Zeng’s lawyer through federal appointment did not respond when contacted for comment.

Zeng is set to appear again in court next week while remaining detained without requesting bail.

RCMP spokesperson Camille Boily-Lavoie confirmed they are aware of the case but would not disclose whether they are participating in the FBI investigation; CSIS directed inquiries towards RCMP.Security camera images taken in April appear to show a man allegedly Zeng trying to open a locked Fed Ex truck while taking photos from a parking lot at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport according to information provided by the FBI. (U. S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan)>”I feel somewhat sorry for [Zeng],” Margaret Mc Cuaig-Johnston said during an interview earlier this week; she serves on the advisory board at China’s Strategic Risks Institute think tank located in Ottawa.>”I’m sure he didn’t realize what kind of trouble he was getting himself into.”>

She pointed out that China’s Ministry of State Security often relies on students abroad like him gathering information or capturing photographs useful for Beijing’s intelligence agencies.>”They don’t need their own people gathering this data so it gives them deniability,” Mc Cuaig-Johnston added.>An unnamed representative from China’s Embassy located within Ottawa stated Wednesday that Beijing “strongly opposes exaggerating these so-called ‘China spy threats’ along with baseless speculation against China.”>

Michel Juneau-Katsuya who previously served as chief over CSIS’s Asia-Pacific unit mentioned those willing participants performing tasks assigned by intelligence organizations are referred within industry circles as “co-optees.”>”The question remains: is [Zeng] actually acting as a spy or just someone recruited unknowingly?” Juneau-Katsuya stated; “And it appears he’s likely leaning toward being the latter.”

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