A fight has broken out in Taiwan over a Chinese spy case, with a senior official accusing a fundraising campaign for the accused of exploiting the scandal — bad news for the defendant's public support.

• Former TV news anchor Lin Chen-yu, known as "Ma De," is accused of taking Chinese money to pay soldiers for pro-China videos and to buy defence secrets, including missile deployment details.
• Prosecutors say the ring also targeted a health ministry researcher who allegedly passed journalist lists and government dirt to Beijing for small monthly payments; a 12-year sentence is being sought.
• Veteran journalist Hsu Tsung-mao says Mainland Affairs Council deputy head Liang Wen-chieh trampled on the presumption of innocence by commenting publicly, and launched a donation drive for the defence.
• Liang hit back, telling Hsu to sue him instead of raising money, and said he distrusts anyone fundraising off a spy case.
• The row is also personal: Liang noted Hsu once covered China's democracy movement but now praises Beijing and criticises Taiwan.

Outlook: The case moves ahead in court while the public argument over China's reach into Taiwan's military and media keeps growing.