FBI suspects woman spied on Taiwanese president's son

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation has arrested a woman on suspicion of spying on the son of Taiwan's president, on the instructions of Chinese authorities.

The US Department of Justice says the suspect is 34-year-old Wanying Zhang, also known as Heather Zhang, who lives outside Los Angeles in the state of California.

She allegedly filmed the US home and vehicles of the son of Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te, and reported back to Chinese authorities.

She is suspected of acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government.

A Justice Department official posted on social media on Sunday a video purportedly of the woman being detained as she tries to depart for China from Los Angeles International Airport.

FBI Director Kash Patel wrote in a social media post, "Foreign adversaries take note: America is NOT your playground."

A spokesperson for Taiwan's presidential office described the surveillance of Lai's son as a typical case of cross-border repression.

The spokesperson said Taiwan expresses the strongest condemnation of such barbaric conduct that disregards human rights, and stressed that Taiwan will continue to work closely with the United States and others.