Battle of Tamsui

The Battle of Tamsui was a French attempt to seize a second strategic port in northern Taiwan after Keelung. Admiral Lespès attempted a landing but encountered fierce resistance from entrenched Chinese troops. After several hours of intense combat in marshy terrain, the assault failed. French troops had to withdraw, marking a rare defeat in this war.

After the capture of Keelung, France targeted Tamsui to control all of northern Taiwan. This operation was to allow the French navy to lock maritime access and block supplies. But Chinese forces, alerted by previous operations, fortified the sector. The assault was launched without sufficient preparation.

French troops landed under Chinese battery fire. Advancing with difficulty through wet terrain and intense heat, they attempted to take redoubts by frontal attack. Embarked French artillery failed to neutralize defenses. After several repulsed waves, troops were re-embarked under naval protection.

This failure halted French ambitions to fully control northern Taiwan. The island remained partially contested. Despite this tactical defeat, France maintained its position at Keelung. The Battle of Tamsui was exploited by Chinese propaganda as a symbol of resistance. It would be followed by new engagements, notably on land in Tonkin.