The sibling of a University of Waterloo student detained during an FBI counter-intelligence probe has refuted claims of his involvement in espionage for China.
In a recent social media post, Meixuan Wang dismissed the idea, humorously stating, “If my brother is a Chinese spy, then I’m Trump’s father.”
Weiheng Zeng, a Chinese national studying at the University of Waterloo, was apprehended last month while trying to cross into the U.S. from Windsor, Ont., and charged with providing false information.
Court records reveal that Zeng confessed to accepting paid tasks from an individual he believed had ties to a Chinese security agency.
The criminal complaint, submitted in U.S. District Court in Michigan, includes surveillance footage allegedly showing Zeng climbing a forklift, attempting to access a locked FedEx truck, and taking photographs at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.
Zeng admitted to snapping pictures of aircraft and tail numbers, receiving $20-30 US per image, at the behest of the unnamed contact. He also confessed to similar incidents at a FedEx facility in Toronto’s Pearson International Airport.
The accusations have been described as activities resembling espionage by prosecutor Alyse Wu during the court hearing in Detroit. The case is currently under investigation, as confirmed by Gina Balaya, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Zeng, who identifies as “Billy” on his public Instagram account, portrays himself as a photography enthusiast and a student in Waterloo’s global business and digital arts program expected to graduate in 2028.
His Instagram feed displays aircraft photos, including Canadian military planes seemingly captured at an air show in 2024.
According to his sister, Jade, Zeng has a passion for airplanes and is on the autism spectrum. She believes he may not have fully comprehended the gravity of the situation when questioned by U.S. border officials.
Zeng’s court-appointed federal defender, Rhonda Brazile, has not responded to media requests for comments. Zeng is scheduled for another court appearance next week and remains in custody without seeking bail.
While the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is aware of the case, they declined to confirm their involvement in the FBI’s investigation. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) directed inquiries to the RCMP.
Experts believe that foreign intelligence agencies often exploit overseas students for information gathering purposes. Margaret McCuaig-Johnston, an advisory board member at a think-tank, expressed sympathy for Zeng, suggesting he might have been unwittingly drawn into such activities.
A statement from the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa denounced the “China spy threat” narrative, emphasizing China’s opposition to unfounded accusations and insinuations.
Former CSIS official Michel Juneau-Katsuya explained that individuals paid to carry out tasks for intelligence agencies are termed “co-optees.” He speculated that Zeng might have been recruited to perform tasks rather than being a full-fledged spy.