Taiwan's Executive Yuan has agreed to countersign the drone and defense self-reliance act passed by the legislature — good news for the domestic military industry, but also a handle for the opposition, which is now asking why other shelved bills are not being treated the same way.

• The Executive Yuan has countersigned the "Act for Strengthening Defense Self-Reliance and the Development of the Unmanned Vehicle Industry," reasoning that every day sooner the military's combat capability takes shape is another day of deterrence.
• At the same time, the Executive Yuan drew two red lines: the Cabinet's budgetary authority and state secrets must not be infringed.
• The TPP caucus said the ruling party had previously accused the opposition's budget bills of being unconstitutional, and that letting this one through amounts to contradicting itself.
• The opposition named eight bills that Cho Jung-tai had previously refused to countersign, including the children's future accounts and the retirement benefits act for military, police and firefighters, demanding that they all be promulgated and implemented as well.
• Others have questioned whether signing long-term contracts with a special budget can keep pace with the rapid update cycle of drones, and whether it will in fact benefit combat capability.

Outlook: This countersignature dispute will not be settled any time soon, and whether the remaining eight bills are unfrozen will be the focus of the next round of wrangling between the executive and the legislature.