A University of Waterloo student accused of taking airport photographs for someone he believed was a Chinese government official has pleaded not guilty in the United States to making false statements.

Weiheng Zeng entered the plea at an arraignment in Michigan on Monday, Nov. 9, according to court documents cited by The Canadian Press in a report published by Global News.

Zeng, a Chinese citizen who was studying at Waterloo, was arrested after allegedly photographing Toronto Pearson and Chicago O’Hare airports at the request of a contact he met on an online forum.

An FBI affidavit filed earlier this year said authorities first flagged Zeng in connection with an April incident at a FedEx facility at O’Hare. A man was seen taking photographs, climbing a forklift and trying to open locked trailers, according to the affidavit.

The affidavit said Zeng had driven into the United States about 10 days before that incident and was later linked to a minivan seen at the site.

When Zeng tried to enter the United States in the same vehicle in August, he was pulled aside for several interviews and allegedly gave conflicting statements, the affidavit said.

The allegations have not been tested in court.

Sources