Taiwan's government is locked in a fight over who has the final say on new laws, a bad sign for cooperation between the cabinet and a parliament controlled by the opposition.

• Premier Cho Jung-tai refused to countersign bills passed by parliament, including a new savings account program for children.
• Legislative speaker Han Kuo-yu called that a weaponization of the countersignature power and said blocking the child program hurts Taiwan as births keep falling.
• The cabinet says the constitution plainly gives the premier the right to sign or not sign, comparing it to mediation where either side can say no.
• The cabinet frames the refusal as defending constitutional order, arguing harmony without law cannot build consensus.
• Cho and his secretary-general plan to visit Han once next year's national budget reaches parliament.

Outlook: Expect more standoffs as the budget lands in a parliament the ruling party does not control.