Taiwan Speaker, Xiai Wang, promised to block his fellow lawmakers' review of the trade pact with China as a compromise with student-activists to finally leave the legislature building which they have occupied for three weeks now.

His pronouncements were carried by Taipei-based local television TVBS.

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Lawmakers from the ruling party, Kuomintang, said they were in "shock" and were caught unaware by Wang's statements. 

The decision to halt the review until an "oversight bill" has been passed could diffuse the tension between the government and the activists, however.

"We see and hear Speaker Wang's goodwill," student-acivist Lin Fei Fan said. "We'll discuss the Speaker's call for us to leave the chamber."

Student-activists have been staging protest rallies in Taiwan, calling for the government to review "properly" the trade pact it entered into with China. 

The protesters said that Taiwan is "undemocratically" expediting the review of the trade pact, which they believe would hand over Taiwan to mainland China. They also accused the Taiwan government of putting the economy at risk.

Last week, the Cabinet has passed several bills to safeguard Taiwan's economic dealings with China, including the monitoring of agreements, and creating public consultation procedures.

The trade pact consists of service trade agreements entered into by China and Taiwan. This pact will provide both countries sound economic activities in 80 industries.