The envoy Tokujiro NISHI, who was under siege with SHIBA, stated, "The Qing government lacked its former decisiveness," and the Qing dynasty was also confused about the treatment of the group of envoys, and could not made a harsh decision within the two months of besiegement.
柴同様籠城していた西徳二郎公使が「清国政府としてはそれまでの決心がない」というように、清朝側も公使団の扱いに困惑し、非情な決断をしかねたという背景が二ヶ月の籠城戦にはあった。