Battle of Keelung

As part of the naval campaign against China, France launched a landing at Keelung (Formosa) to establish a bridgehead. Under Admiral Lespès's direction, French troops faced Chinese defenses and seized the town after two days of combat. This operation foreshadowed a more lasting occupation of the region, although fighting continued in the following months.

Parallel to the Battle of Fuzhou, France sought to establish footholds in Taiwan. Keelung, a strategic port in the north of the island, was defended by well-entrenched Chinese troops. The landing aimed to control maritime routes of the China Sea. It was also intended to pressure Beijing by threatening its island possessions.

On 5 August, the French landed under naval artillery cover. Naval infantry advanced through difficult terrain and attacked enemy positions on heights around the port. On 6 August, an outflanking maneuver enabled capture of the main fort. Chinese troops withdrew into the island interior. The town was occupied immediately afterward.

The capture of Keelung gave France an advanced naval base in Taiwan. However, the region would remain unstable and fighting around Keelung would continue until 1885. This operation marked a turning point in the war, which became both continental and insular. The battle demonstrated French power projection capability in East Asia.