Taiwan's premier is blocking three new broadcasting laws he says would let political parties and the military back into media ownership — a win for press independence, a fresh flashpoint in the fight between the cabinet and parliament.

• Premier Cho Jung-tai has refused to countersign changes to the satellite, cable, and radio-TV broadcasting laws, saying they would let parties, the government, and the military buy stakes and control stations again.
• That brings the number of bills he has left unsigned to eight, including one on parliament's powers.
• He also refuses to sign a law he says would let lawmakers legally spend staff allowances on themselves and wipe out related criminal liability — while sparing local councils from the same rules.
• Cho says the refusals have made him plenty of enemies and compared himself to a goalkeeper getting pelted with balls.
• Parliament sat on this year's central government budget for 351 days and still has not sent the passed version to the cabinet, leaving the cabinet's own office overspending its budget.

Outlook: The standoff between Taiwan's cabinet and opposition-controlled parliament is set to deepen, with more bills likely to go unsigned.