Taiwan's premier is escalating a constitutional fight with the opposition-run legislature, arguing the cabinet must be able to block laws that wreck the budget — a standoff that puts next year's central government spending plan at risk.

• Cho Jung-tai says the constitution requires the premier to countersign laws, and that gives him a duty to refuse when a bill breaks fiscal discipline or the constitutional order.
• His argument: Taiwan is a hybrid system — the president has no veto, so without the countersignature the country could slide into "opposition dictatorship."
• He drew a line on money: the legislature should not write budgets into law and hand the cabinet the bill, since lawmakers would then be reviewing their own spending.
• The cabinet just approved the 2027 central government budget and is sending it to lawmakers, where a fight over cuts is expected.
• Cho plans to visit Han Kuo-yu in person, pitching cooperation but insisting it happen on constitutional terms.

Outlook: Expect a bruising budget review this autumn, with the countersignature dispute likely heading toward a constitutional showdown.