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The protests in Taipei turned violent after a small group of students who split off from the larger demonstration led hundreds of youngsters in storming the cabinet building.
The occupation happened after a split emerged between hawks and doves within the Black Island Nation Youth Front. They couldn't agree on whether a more violent approach would succeed in torpedoing the pact.
Wei Yang, a key member of the Youth Front, pushed for the failed occupation. About 20 members of his group believed the move would prompt the sacking of the cabinet - the Executive Yuan - according to a female student who is a front member.
The Taipei District Prosecutors Office detained Wei for his role in the break-in, although he has not been charged.

	Our goal is still the same and we hope police can stop using force [on] students

	Lin Fei-fan, protest leader
The trade accord would open many of Taiwan's service industries - including banking - to mainland investors and offer Taiwanese businesses similar opportunities on the mainland.
Some 200 students have occupied the legislature since Tuesday, saying the agreement would harm Taiwan's economy and sharply cut youth employment.
The latest occupation came despite pleas by other Youth Front leaders to ask legislators peacefully to halt their review of the trade pact. The protests have prevented the unicameral parliament from ratifying the document.
President Ma Ying-jeou rejected demands to halt the agreement, which was signed last year.
Without alerting the front on Sunday, the 20 hardline members prepared cardboard cartons, thick quilts and portable ladders to break through three layers of barbed wire barricades blocking the cabinet building, the female student said.
Wei, 24, later joined the group and tried to organise the occupation. But soon some demonstrators were seen on local TV broadcasts looting and vandalising several government offices. That prompted Ma to deploy the police.
Wei, who's been active in several protests and is the great grandson of famous Taiwanese author Yang Kui, was contrite in a post left on his Facebook page.
"I must apologise because I know such a mobilisation is irresponsible, but I still hope those who support us can come to reinforce us," Wei said shortly after the occupation.
"We decided to do this so that it can help ease the pressure on our fellow comrades at the legislature and to demonstrate our determination to the Ma Ying-jeou government."
Lin Fei-fan, the commander of the "Occupy Legislature" protest, said that although he and other students disagreed with invading government offices, "our goal is still the same and we hope that police can stop using force to deal with students".
He said Wei assumed the leadership role in Sunday's occupation to contain the risk.
Lin said the front would continue its peaceful approach to pressuring the government to halt the review of the pact, require supervision of all cross-strait agreements and refrain from any negotiation of a new accord before the law takes effect.
Additional reporting by McClatchy Tribune, Agence France-Presse


Occupation of Taiwan's cabinet office was work of protest hawks

Protesters clash with police in Taipei yesterday. Photo: AFP

Demonstrators and police confront each other in front of the cabinet building in Taipei. Photo: Reuters

Taiwan Premier Jiang Yi-huah 'willing to talk' about trade pact with student protesters 

Premier Jiang Yi-huah.

All Taiwan must pull together to improve its people's lives

Police officers remove student protesters from the ground at the Executive Yuan in Taipei. Photo: AFP 

Economists blame Taiwan protests on fears of Beijing 'annexation'

Riot police detain a protester near the Cabinet compound in Taipei after an attempt by protesters to seize the government headquarters. Photo: EPA

A young man taunts riot police as they disperse protesters from the Cabinet compound in Taipei, Taiwan. Photo: EPA

Police use a water cannon to disperse a demonstrator during a protest against a trade pact with mainland China. Photo: Reuters

More than 150 injured as police evict student protesters from Taiwan parliament

Student protesters battle with riot police outside the Executive Yuan last night. At least 20 were detained. Photo: CNA

Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou

Student protesters occupy the Executive Yuan in Taipei. Photo: AFP

Taiwanese student protesters against a trade pact with Beijing try to intimidate police after storming the government Cabinet buildings in Taipei. Photo: AP

Taiwanese student demonstrators are removed by police after storming the government cabinet offices in Taipei. Photo: AP

A student guards the entrance of the Executive Yuan during a demonstration in Taipei. Photo: AFP

Protesters scuffle with police officers outside the Executive Yuan during a demonstration in Taipei. Photo: AFP

Taiwanese protesters are forced by riot police to leave the government cabinet buildings in Taipei. Photo: AP

Taiwan's riot police clash with demonstrators as they try to clear the government cabinet buildings in Taipei. Photo: AP

Taiwanese students protesting against a China Taiwan trade pact are sprayed with a water cannon while storming the government Cabinet offices. Photo: AP

A protester refuses to leave the street despite being hit by police water cannon near the Cabinet compound in Taipei, 24 March 2014. Photo: EPA

Riot police use water cannon to disperse protesters near the Cabinet compound in Taipei. Photo: EPA

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China

The protests in Taipei turned violent after a small group of students who split off from the larger demonstration led hundreds of youngsters in storming the cabinet building.
