Taiwan's political standoff has deepened as the Cabinet refuses to sign off on laws already passed by the legislature, a bad sign for the country's constitutional stability.

• Premier Cho Jung-tai declined to countersign a bill creating "future accounts" for children, blocking it from taking effect.
• Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu called the move a complete misreading of the constitution and accused the premier of turning the countersignature into a weapon.
• The constitution gives the premier one tool against the president and a different one — asking lawmakers to reconsider a bill — against the legislature, and mixing them up is the core dispute.
• Cho defended himself by saying the legislature is passing unconstitutional bills and that without a veto the country could fall under opposition rule by decree.
• Mayors Chiang Wan-an of Taipei and Lu Shiu-yen of Taichung backed Han, saying every president since direct elections has signed and carried out laws even when facing a hostile legislature.

Outlook: The fight over countersigning is likely to widen into the battle over the national budget, with no sign either side will back down.