French Invasion of Taiwan During Sino-French War

The French invasion of Taiwan during the Sino-French War was marked by the Keelung Campaign, which began with a bombardment of Keelung's harbor by French naval officer Sébastien Lespès. This initial attack aimed to neutralize Chinese defenses, specifically targeting gun placements. Following the bombardment, the French forces attempted to capture Keelung but encountered a larger Chinese contingent led by Liu Mingchuan, resulting in a withdrawal. Subsequently, French Admiral Amédée Courbet landed with a contingent of 2,250 troops, successfully defeating a smaller Chinese force and capturing Keelung. Despite this victory, French attempts to seize Tamsui were unsuccessful, leading to further military actions that included shelling the area and damaging both military and civilian structures.