Taiwan's legislature and cabinet are in an open standoff over laws the executive branch refuses to sign or enforce, a fight that threatens the basic balance of power in government.

• Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu says the cabinet is shaking the whole constitutional order by repeatedly refusing to countersign bills the legislature has passed.
• The cabinet has declined to sign off on laws covering tax revenue sharing between central and local government, party assets, broadcasting, legislative organization, and military housing.
• Two more bills — one on cable television and one creating savings accounts for children — were just refused as well, and laws on military pay and police personnel still sit unenforced.
• Han's argument is blunt: no governing party gets to obey only the laws it likes, and executive power cannot outrank the constitution.
• He also pushed his own chamber to keep doing its job — reviewing budgets, questioning officials, and cutting or freezing funds where warranted.

Outlook: With neither side backing down, expect the fight to move into budget season, where the legislature holds its strongest leverage.