In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

Premier Cho Jung-tai is refusing to countersign three legal amendments passed
by lawmakers earlier this year -- citing what he claims to be flaws in their
constitutionality.

The amendments were made in January to the Act Governing the Settlement of
Ill-gotten Properties by Political Parties and Their Affiliate Organizations,
the Satellite Broadcasting Act, and the Organic Law of the Legislative Yuan.

Cho's refusal to countersign the laws effectively means the revisions will
not be enacted.

Cabinet spokeswoman Michelle Lee says the revision to the Act Governing the
Settlement of Ill-gotten Properties seeking to reverse a 2022 designation of
the China Youth Corps as a KMT-affiliate, contravenes a 2023 constitutional
interpretation.

According to Lee, the amendment to the Satellite Broadcasting Act is "case
specific" and therefore represents an "unreasonable differential treatment"
that is "unfair" for other TV news channels.

And the Cabinet spokeswoman also says the amendment to the Organic Law of the
Legislative Yuan will create a loophole that could encourage lawmakers to
pocket their aides' salaries and will increase the financial burden on the
central government.

The K-M-T is accusing the premier of trampling on the separation of powers
principle and usurping the power of the courts to determine whether a law is
constitutional.

And the Taiwan People's Party is slamming President Lai Ching-te - saying he
bears the ultimate responsibility for his administration's contempt for the
law.