Confrontation between Taiwan's executive and legislative branches has escalated again, with the Executive Yuan refusing to countersign a bill that has already passed its third reading, leaving no way out of the deadlock in the near term.

• The Executive Yuan has decided not to countersign the Act on Children and Youth Development and Future Accounts passed by the Legislative Yuan.
• Its stated reason is that the bill violates the separation of powers, the principle of proportionality, and the principle of taxation by law.
• New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih has called on both the executive and the legislature to exercise their powers in accordance with the Constitution and the law.
• On the same day, the Executive Yuan council approved the central government's general budget bill for next year, making the confrontation even more sensitive.

Outlook: With the budget review about to begin, the tug-of-war between the executive and the legislature looks set to continue for some time.