Taiwan's Control Yuan could be left empty and unable to work if lawmakers block new appointments, which would hurt ordinary people who rely on it to fight corruption and injustice.

• Chen Yung-hsing, nominated to head the Control Yuan, says the body is still a legal part of the constitution and asked lawmakers to approve nominees on Sept. 29.
• If the seats stay empty, nobody watches over corruption by officials, parties, and lawmakers, and people with complaints about unfair court rulings have nowhere to turn.
• Blocking appointments in the name of abolishing the Control Yuan is pointless while the bar for changing the constitution is so high — three-quarters of the legislature plus a majority of all voters.
• Chen wants that bar lowered first, and says no party has even put forward a plan for who would take over the watchdog and impeachment powers.
• He is promising reforms if confirmed: regular public updates on cases, outside review of its work, and better-trained investigators.

Outlook: The legislature votes Sept. 29, and a rejection would leave Taiwan's watchdog body sitting idle with no replacement in sight.