Taiwan's government watchdog agency has been shut down after opposition lawmakers blocked every nominee, and the fight has now turned into accusations that the body is a tool of the ruling party.

• The legislature voted down all 27 nominees for the Control Yuan, including the nominee to lead it, leaving the agency with no members at all.
• The opposition KMT and TPP supplied the no votes, and the KMT accuses the watchdog of doing the ruling DPP's bidding.
• The trigger was a preliminary inquiry into the exchange-student case involving the son of Taipei mayor Chiang Wan-an, a KMT figure.
• The DPP calls the claim political language with no evidence, pointing out the agency now has no members and no power to act.
• With the watchdog empty, it cannot impeach or censure officials, and ordinary citizens' complaints are piling up unprocessed.

Outlook: The standoff looks set to drag on, leaving Taiwan without a functioning government watchdog until a new slate of nominees can win enough votes.