Leaving aside for the moment the accuracy of such assertions, at the very least we can say that the fact that Siew's appointment preceded Jiang's statement shows that Taiwan had already taken the initiative. Yet, when Siew's appointment was first announced, not only did he feel somewhat nonplussed, his subordinates at the CEPD were also startled.
姑不論這樣的推論可信度有多高，至少從蕭萬長的上任時間早於「江八點」，可以看出我方的主動部署。不過當初發佈這項人事調動時，不只蕭萬長本人意外，他經建會的部屬也頗為吃驚。